I think my time with this author has come to an end. I really liked HOW SWEET IT IS, but I DNF Fired Up. I had a hard time finishing this. So many of the antics and situations felt forced for the sake of causing tension and showing us how overworked Bryce was. I didn't really care for Ryker, either. A lot of the dialogue was forced, and the information that was released through the dialogue was chunky and TOO detailed to where it wasn't believable.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Sweetest book of an aunt who is figuring out how to unexpectedly parent her three nieces, and a Marine veteran who is mourning the loss of his military career and leg. Both are trying to find balance and their way forward.

Apparently the third of a series, I didn't miss anything reading it as a standalone. Though the story was so great I'll be going back to read her others.

#arc
#netgalley
#changeofplans

This is the final book in the Matthews brothers trilogy, and it was my favorite!

From the meet cute in the first chapter to the epilogue at the end, the chemistry between Bryce and Ryker was captivating. Beyond that, the story featured themes of grief, trauma, and disability in realistic and respectful ways.

This is the third in a companion series that follows each of the Matthews brothers. While they technically can be read in any order, I do suggest reading them chronologically since there may mild spoilers for certain events that come before.

I absolutely adored reading Newton’s companion series, finishing it out with Change of Plans. If you're looking for a lovely contemporary romance that is both heartwarming and a little steamy, these books are for you. They have all the small-town vibes and a romance that will have you smiling from ear to ear.

While the small-town vibes certainly brings some added coziness and charm, Change of Plans is also filled with serious and even tear jerker elements. The book follows Bryce and Ryker. Bryce is struggling to find balance ever since her brother and his wife passed, leaving three lovely girls in her care. The elements of grief in this felt raw and emotional. Though readers of the rest of the series have met him before, Ryker reveals sides of his character we have only ever gotten a glimpse of in the previous books. As a veteran, Ryker is still trying to accumulate to life after being at war. He suffers from PTSD and night terrors. For a cute contemporary romance, Newton got serious by adding more difficult and hard-hitting topics. While it was a bit darker than her other two Matthews books, I'm glad she didn't shy away from these two characters’ authentic stories.

I found that I was taking my time with reading this book, because I just didn't want it to end. Every chapter, every page had me feeling all the feels - ready to cry one minute, while laughing out loud the next.

One of my favorite things of this whole companion series has been the mention of real-life places that readers can actually go and experience. Change of Plans, like the rest of the books, is primarily set in Wellsville, New York, which is very real place. Newton also mentions Rochester, New York’s Nick Tahou Hots, a restaurant that I would love to visit in real life to feel even more connected to these characters. Customers of the restaurant can even order a garbage plate just like Ryker and Bryce did in the book! The books are written so well that readers feel like they are walking down the street of Wellsville. It's wildly immersive!

Dylan Newton writes incredibly well. The contemporary romances I've read from her have been so honest and lovely. Newton has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton has the best ingredients for a great romance, including an equal balance of heart wrenching and swoonworthy elements. This definitely needs to be your next read.

Dylan Newton is such a fantastic author!
Her writing is engaging and inviting, her romances are so satisfying and her character are so personable!

If you want found family gold and a book with a lot of heart, this is definitely for you!

Third in a series that I accidentally read out of order.

After a car accident, Bryce finds herself the guardian of her three nieces. She moves to the same town as the previous two novels, so it's also the story of the third Matthews brother. Ryker lost the lower part of his leg while on deployment and is adjusting to life back home, even all of these years later. He's plagued by a wicked combination of PTSD and phantom limb syndrome. He totally saves her butt while she's wrangling her nieces in the grocery store, and they try to figure their stuff out.

I saw the third act drama coming from a mile away, which was disappointing, but probably also means I've been reading too many romance novels lately. Still a cute read.

Thanks, NetGalley!

- 4.5 Stars -

This book was so sweet! I could not help myself from falling absolutely in love with Bryce and Ryker. The two of them were a match made in heaven! I really loved the way that they chose to support one another in a lot of different areas. However, the miscommunication trope came into play with this and that always gives me the ick, but I chose to forgive it because these two were so freaking sweet together!

I really liked the way that we got to see the relationship between Bryce and her nieces grow throughout the book, and Addison was the cutest of them all and will forever have my heart in her little fairy hands. The portrayal of grief and feeling like you need to hold it all together while falling apart was really well done. Even Rykers grief was portrayed very real and raw, which made it easier to connect with the characters in my own opinion.

Overall, this book was exactly what I needed and I would definitely recommend it! Please read this cutie romance. Please.

🤍 Thank you so much to the publisher @readforeverpub & @netgalley for this physical advanced reader copy!

⚠️TW: grief, war, death, death of parent, car accident, sexism, violence

This book has to have one of the cutest meetcutes ever. Loved the writing and the characters. Will definitely go back and check out the first 2 books though the stories were spoiled somewhat coming in at the 3rd brother. I do wish the communication trope wasn't used as much but I can kind of understand why. Definitely recommend for a sweet story with some heavy themes.

I really enjoyed this book, the third and final book in a trilogy.
The book definitely touches on some serious issues, so readers should be aware. These include: off-page deaths of parents leaving kids orphaned and injury and death sustained in military conflict.

I loved the meet-cute for Bryce and Ryker; it was more of a meet-disaster and really clued us in early on to the struggles Bryce is going through as the guardian to her nieces, and also brought a new perspective on Ryker (to whom we were previously introduced in the previous two books in the series) through the eyes of a five-year-old.

While I am not a parent (I do have nephews), I did lose a parent at a young age and I really identified a lot with what the three kids are going through; the uncertainty, the feeling of permanent loss, the grief. I think the author handled these really well, showing that grief can be different for everyone, is not linear, and has no set timeline. We also see this with Ryker as he continues to heal from his trauma.

Over the course of the book, we see how both Bryce and Ryker grow into their roles in their respective families, and also become support for one another, finding time to be together when they can, bonding over shared interests, and slowly building a family.

Really appreciate the opportunity from the author, NetGalley and Forever to read an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Change of Plans is the latest romance by Dylan Newton. Change of Plans is a sweet and moving story about loss, grief, PTSD, and family. I loved reading Bryce and Ryker’s story and was rooting for the two them from the very beginning.
I highly recommend Change of Plans to anyone who is looking for an emotional romance filled with realistic characters that are unforgettable. I can’t wait to read more by this very talented author.

Thanks to Netgalley on this E-Book. I looveed looveed this book it melted my black heart so much. This is part of a series which I read the first and not the second but it can be read as a completely stand alone. If you think this is a rom com its not It is so much more. Its about the aftermath of loosing loved ones, PTSD, and what finding your happily ever after means. Go in blind like I did or go in however but read this book you wont regret it.

Fine @authordylannewton have my beating heart why don't cha!!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

When your most recent read feels a bit like your real current life....it hits a little different.

Ryker is battling some demons. Some fake heavily and ever present demons.

While my service member hasn't given an appendage to "a war I'm not even sure I understand" he has given more than his fair share.

I lost and found a piece of myself in this story.

Thanks @readforeverpub and Dylan for creating this masterpiece. Finding a happily ever after sometimes isn't in the cards for people who appear so broken.

Also, Bryce! She was everything. Taking on parenthood in the middle of her life with three kids, and a tween! Man. What a challenge and she handles is wonderfully!

I didn't think I could love characters in this "world" more than Drake and Kate...but damn. You did me in Bryce and Ryker.

Thanks for the #gifted finished copy @readforeverpub! I will treasure it always!

I love this series and the Matthew's brothers! I am in love with any book that features a chef and Bryce cooked up some yummy recipes. Not to mention the emotional punch this one had.
Bryce is raising her three nieces after her brother and his wife perish in a car accident. She has been named in the will as guardian, but their mother's parents are also fighting for custody. She feels like she is being stretched in all the directions and she doesn't have time for someone like Ryker, but being with him is so easy and effortless that it doesn't make things harder, it makes them easier.
Ryker came back from Afganastan with an amputed leg and severe PTSD, but he doesn't let on just how bad it is. He sticks to his garage and doesn't go out into society much. When a chance encounter at the supermarket throws them together, he can't help but feel like she brings him back to his old self. It is nice to smile.
They both have secrets they are hiding, which i didn't like, but I understood. They both thought their baggage was too much for someone to take on so they kept some hidden. They fell fast and hard and were worried the other would not feel the same way.
I really did wish they would have communicated more, but in the end it all worked out just as it ought to be. There were a few items that I thought needed to be addressed but overall this one was a great emotional read.
Thanks to Dylan Newton, Netgalley and Forever for an early copy.

I received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

Bryce finds herself in a responsible position as the guardian of her three nieces after her brother and sister-in-law tragically passed away in a car accident. To be close to the kids, she moves back to the city and secures a job at a local bakery, where she hopes to expand the menu by introducing new soups and sandwiches. However, her financial struggles are compounded by the overwhelming task of caring for her nieces.

As if that weren't enough, the grandparents believe they can provide a better home for the grandchildren and are seeking legal custody. Bryce's life seems like a series of disasters, and while at the grocery store with the girls, she faces yet another challenge when one of her nieces gets stuck under a shelf. In her moment of distress, a handsome man named Ryker with a prosthetic leg comes to her aid. Interestingly, Bryce works for Ryker's mom at PattyCakes. Bryce and Rkyer start spending time together and Ryker finds that he is smiling which is something he hasn’t done in a long time.

This book is part of a series, I previously read the second book. Now, I have read both the second and third books in the series. The story delves into themes of grief, conflict, and PTSD, yet manages to handle them with a light touch. Despite addressing challenging topics, the book remains enjoyable and I recommend it . While I liked this book, I found "All Fired Up" slightly more appealing. It's a compelling read that comes close to a 4-star rating, but not quite there.

Love love LOVED this one. I will be snatching up any book this author puts out in the future! The female lead was badass, the relationship was so cute and the family aspects were perfect.

A really cute plot that gave me Raising Helen vibes! All the characters were unique and fleshed out well, and I liked all their family members as the side characters. I will say I liked it during some parts, but then I was bored in others.

The main part that took away stars for me was the cheesy and unrealistic dialogue. The phrases they used were too long and perfected, it didn’t feel like how people would realistically communicate. I was also hoping for more romance in the story, but I think this book is more about found family.

The nieces were adorable and fun to read about and watch their journey. Overall a sweet, easy read but not one that was too memorable or that I’d go out of my way to recommend to others.

CHANGE OF PLANS was the perfect ending to the Matthews brother series by Dylan Newton. I was most excited for this middle brother’s chance and love, and my hopes were answered and then some, in the form of three little girls who also work their way into Ryker’s heart. As a former Marine, Ryker thinks he’s too broken to love and be loved, and as the newly appointed guardian of her three nieces, love is the last thing Bryce is looking for. But with anything, there can always be a change of plans.

Ryker and Bryce’s story was everything I love about love stories, wrapped up into one. A brooding hero who doesn’t really like anyone; a sunshine-y heroine who is trying to look at the brighter side of things; a meet cute in the grocery store (!); and three little ones who aren’t always well-behaved, but have a whole lot of love to give. Bryce and the girls turn Ryker’s world upside down, but in the best way. He learns that he is enough, just as he is, and that asking for help is not a sign if weakness. Although Bryce’s world was turned upside down for different reasons, she finds joy in every day fights for herself and for her nieces, redefining what a family looks like.

And of course, Bryce and Ryker together is like taking the first bite of some delicious sweet chili. They couldn’t have denied their chemistry—though they really did try—but in getting to know one another, they find peace and solace as well. I could not stop reading! This book is like a warm hug (sans a hug emergency).

Fans of the series will see some very familiar faces, and I think people will really like how the series ends. A huge thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an early copy of CHANGE OF PLANS. It was delicious and everyone needs to pick this one up!

I somehow miss Dylan’s book coming out as I have loved the first two of this series and so did the ahhh 😱 it’s Dylan!! So had to get to this- this weekend!! And like all the rest 🤣🥹 it was sooo good! She has become a favorite author ✍️. This one does have some TW with sibling death and war PTSD. These two are one of those real couples that have to figure out their shit out at the same time as sparks fly plus three cute girls in that mix. We get chef 👩🏻‍🍳 now auntie/mom and veteran mechanic 👨‍🔧 with some steam 👏🏻🔥 but also one hell of a grand gesture with little ones through out as well!

Go grab this series now!!!

Chef Bryce Weatherford never expected her life to make the dramatic U-turn that it did. Her brother dies in a car accident and leaves custody of his 3 kids to her. She barely had her own life organized and now her 3 nieces, 5 year old addison who refuses to take off her wings. Cecily, the smelliest 8 year old that ever lived because she won’t bathe and a goth tween in June just tops off the dumpster fire.

Ryker Matthews, a vet and amputee, is a recluse. He doesn’t talk to anyone about how bad things are for him on a day to day basis but a chance encounter in a grocery store has both Ryker and Bryce feeling the possibilities of a romance when they never expected their lives to have any room for it. Opening up themselves to the possibility that a change of plans could be exactly what both of them needed.

This might be the cutest dang book I ever read. I loved the fact an injured Vet had major representation in this book. There was no easy path for him or Bryce and they both came from devastation. Both their lives, a total mess but once they find each other, they realize that even though they have their problems, problems most people would walk the other way from, they are like balms for each other. They lessen each other's loads and together, they make sparks fly.

I loved that this little family, who lost their parents in tragedy, found a new family with their aunt. That they learned how to be there for each other was so beautiful. I loved the writing, it was really lovely and lucid. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it filled my heart with such warmth that I didn’t want that feeling to end. The best part for me too was when Ryker got his dog…. SIGHHHH I fell in love with that dog too.

I love a good romance book and this one checked all the boxes for me.

5 stars. It’s out now so grab a copy today, you won’t be sorry.

Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for my gifted copy

Thank you so much to Forever and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Change of Plans. This is the third book about the Matthews brothers and I have loved every one of them!
Change of Plans 5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won't bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It's been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he's lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store's baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

Oh man y’all, I really loved this book! I liked all of the Matthews brothers, but Ryker was definitely my favorite, so I was really excited about his book! Bryce was such a great leading lady- I loved the way that she puts everything into her relationships. Being thrown into being a guardian for 3 young girls could not have been easy, but even when Bryce was doubting herself, she was still doing great for those girls. Ryker and Bryce together were super cute. Communication was definitely an issue for them, but it was done in a way that seemed so realistic and made sense so early on in their relationship. Overall, I really loved Change of Plans (and all of the books in this series) so I definitely think y’all should pick it up now!