I loved this one! Change of Plans was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, being the third connected novel in the Matthew brothers series. I’ve been looking forward to Ryker story since book one and it didn’t disappoint!

I thought the disability and mental health health representation was done really well. The series tones of amputation, war-injury and PTSD were handled so delicately and really well balanced with humor and romance. The addition of three kiddos to the story, love interest Bryce has custody of her nieces. This was just a delight all around. There aren’t many books that balance romance, comedy and heavy issues as well as this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Fun, touching, and sweet!

Change of Plans is a tenderhearted, amusing tale that transports you to the small town of Wellsville, NY and introduces you to the overwhelmed, stressed Bryce as she struggles to juggle the loss of her brother, a relocation, a custody battle, the guardianship of her three nieces, and a budding relationship with the scarred, hunky former Marine turned mechanic Ryker who is having a hard time of his own dealing with his debilitating nightmares from his time in Afghanistan and the ongoing pain in his partially amputated leg.

The prose is polished and light. The characterization is spot on with a cast of characters that are flawed, supportive, and endearing. And the plot is an irresistible blend of heart, humour, life, loss, guilt, grief, misunderstandings, tender moments, PTSD, family, friendship, tension, and attraction.

Overall, Change of Plans is another cosy, charming, heartwarming tale that I absolutely adored and which easily once again solidified why Dylan Newton holds a top spot on my must-read author list.

I loved this book. It’s a delightful romance about chef Bryce, who unexpectedly becomes guardian to her three nieces. She gives up her life and moves to their small town. Then there’s Ryker, a veteran who runs a car restoration garage. These two stumble upon each other in the baby isle of the grocery store and I think it’s my favourite meet cute of all time.

This book is swoony, funny and a little bit spicy. It really show the highs and lows of parenting. It was so realistic in the best way. Ryker wins all the book boyfriend awards for acts of service. He’s not great with words, but he sure does show his love.

Thanks to @netgalley @authordylannewton for this ARC. All opinions on my own. This book is available on Aug 1! Add it to your TBR.

Now I’m off to read everything Dylan Newton has ever written.

This book was so beautiful. The story, the characters, the family, everything was so moving. It made me so emotional, I cried, laughed, smiled. Briefly this book made me feel.

Bryce was so refreshing. She's honest, she's doing her best and isn't scared to show that she's vulnerable. Her nieces are adorable and they are trying too. They made me laugh out loud many times with their adventures.

When Bryce meets Ryker was one of the best moments of the book.
It made me laugh and smile.

Bryce is everything Ryker needs and he is everything she needs.
They found each other at the greatest time. They are not perfect, they are doing the best they can.

They became better and it was amazing to read their development in the relationships.

If you love a book about finding family, anxiety rep, veteran rep, you're gonna devour this one.

A quick, fun read! A heart warming small town romance, with a plot that is more than just the romance. Bryce is trying to find her way as guardian to her three nieces, while Ryker is trying to adjust to civilian life, and being an amputee.

Overall I felt like the relationship between Bryce and Ryker was rushed, neither having time to adjust to their new life. I would have been fine with these two not ending up together, and finding their way in life. Both have major issues to work through that were never acknowledged. The miscommunication between all the characters wore on me by the end of the novel. It was over done and at time seemed far fetched.

A main plot point was Ryker getting service dog. This novel made it seem like you can get an already trained service dog and it will work for you without a problem, and that a week of training is suffice. This is not true. Service dog training takes years, and requires a bond between dog and owner. I wish the author had done more research into this aspect, instead of talking to one person at one organization.

I did not know this was a part of a series, but it works well as a standalone.

I want to thank Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC of this book.

I was pulled into this story from the beginning. I loved the characters. Ryker was such a great hero. And I love Bryce. The story was such a feel-good story. I loved how Ryker and Bryce helped each other. The kids provided some great laugh out loud moments which I loved because they felt so realistic. I haven't read other books by this author before and have now gone out and bought the stories about Ryker's brothers because I enjoyed this one so much. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the eARC!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

If you’re looking for a heart warming, funny, & romantic read this is the book for you!! I loved reading the story of Bryce & her nieces & watching them learn to be a family. The chemistry between Bryce & Ryker was palpable & it was so sweet to watch them help each other through difficult life circumstances. Also, I just love a good found family🥹. This book was a little cliche at times & I don’t say that often about romance books😬also, this book features a lot of miscommunication in the back half which is not my favorite. But overall it’s a really sweet read that felt like a warm hug.

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars. Bryce has been named guardian of three nieces after the death of her brother and is overwhelmed. She is struggling to balance her new responsibilities amidst a move, new job, and the girls’ grandparents fighting her for custody. Ryker Matthews (brother of Drake and Zander from the previous books in the series) comes to her rescue in the grocery store and the two instantly hit it off. Ryker has never been a people person and after having lost part of his leg in Afghanistan and dealing with PTSD he is even less sociable, so his connection with Bryce and her nieces come as a surprise to him. Both are dealing with their own issues but find love and support in each other.

I really really struggle with romances when there are children involved. I liked both Ryker and Bryce but found the girls really took the spotlight away from the romance. Becuase of the plot line with the girls, the book was very Bryce heavy and at times felt more like a women’s fiction book rather than a romance. I was happy to see characters from the previous books, but this one does absolutely work as a standalone. I thought Ryker had the more interesting story and wish there had been more chapters from him and we saw more growth in his character rather than a quick resolution at the end. I do really appreciate that Ryker’s disability made the cover of the book and the aspects of the book involving his leg and PTSD felt really well researched and kindly written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Dylan Newton, Forever Books, and Netgalley, for the gifted eARC.

Chef Bryce Weatherford left her home in Florida and moved to New York when she was given guardianship of her nieces. Since then, her life has been one busy, hectic, rowdy time. The five-year-old Addison insists on wearing her fairy wings all the time, the eight-year-old Cecily smells because she refuses to bathe, and the tween June is mad at the world and insists on taking it out on Bryce. Bryce is barely holding on between work and her three nieces, forget about taking care of herself. Ryker Matthews suffers in quiet, away from everyone, locked inside his vehicle restoration garage. He is a below-the-knee amputee from an injury he sustained in Afghanistan during his time as a Marine. When he meets Bryce in the baby aisle of a grocery store and literally saves, her they both feel a connection. But neither of them need a relationship right now. Or do they both need each other, and they just don't realize it yet?

While Change of Plans is a standalone, you meet Ryker and some of the other characters in the books How Sweet It Is and All Fired Up. This book can easily be read as a standalone, but the other two books are amazing, and I highly recommend reading them. I loved Bryce and Ryker's story. I can't say how many times I laughed out loud from the antics of Bryce's nieces. On the flipside, you have Bryce and Ryker, who are both suffering in their own ways, yet find each other and are able to find a way to be each other's support. Along the way, they fall in love. I love the message of this book. It's about healing and learning to love again after loss. While this book is a little heavier than the other two Matthew brother's books, I think it had the most impactful message. While this book has some triggers with the loss of a parent and PTSD, Dylan Newton does a great job handling these topics with care. Bravo, Ms. Newton, I can't wait to see what you have in store for your adoring readers next!

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did but boy did I fly through it. I loved Bryce and Rykers energy from the beginning and how easy they talked with each other. While they were both dealing with major life moments and struggles they both felt better with each other. I loved the girls and how you could tell they were still struggling with their own grief and working through it their own way. I also loved how Ryker had to come to terms and realize that he had support no matter how hard he tried to push them away. It was such a solid read I definitely want to try some of the Matthews brother other stories.

The last in Dylan Newton's fabulous Matthews brothers trilogy, 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗦 is an emotional small-town romance that truly touched my heart.

Bryce and Ryker both have a lot to deal with in their lives - she's a chef who's recently become guardian to her three young nieces, and he's a Marine dealing with PTSD after a traumatic injury. But after a hilarious grocery-store meet-cute, the two find they can't stay away from each other even though a relationship seems like the last thing either one needs.

I loved how the couple supported each other, happily helping to support the load of their partner's baggage. Although this can be enjoyed as a stand alone, fans of 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘐𝘵 𝘐𝘴 and 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘜𝘱 will be happy to know that Drake, Kate, Zander, Imani, and Patty show up in this one as well. But it was Bryce's rambunctious nieces who stole the show for me, as she tries to figure out how to be a "mom-like creature" to the three funny but also very nuanced characters. Bryce and Ryker may have both experienced the titular "change of plans" but this book shows that sometimes going off-course can be the best thing that happens to you.

One tip - don't read this one on an empty stomach! It made me crave a hearty bowl of soup even though it's in the 90s outside.

Thanks to the author and Forever Publishing for the copy to review.

Bryce suddenly became guardian for her 3 nieces. She upended her life to move to where they lived. She had been a busy chef and now she was dealing with her own grief, the girls' grief, a lawsuit from their grandparents, and so much more. She meets a wonderful, thoughtful man in may ways, but he's horrible at communicating.

It's a rom-com and I laughed out loud, but there's a lot of serious stuff going on in this book. Bryce is a wonderful heroine - she gives and gives and then digs deeper and gives some more. If you're up for reading about a real and complicated life, but with humor, this is a great book. The characters seem like people you could meet and know. They move forward as imperfectly as they can, and yet you're cheering. There is some adult content, but this is a good read for young adult and up.

I’ll be honest - I tend to shy away from military/war hero romances. I just think they tend to be heavier and more fraught than what I’m usually looking for in a romance, which is an escape. But I’m very glad I gave Change of Plans a chance, because I enjoyed it so much more than I expected.

Ryker is a war hero and he does suffer PTSD but the story picks up 7 years after his injury, and I think that time and distance was really good for the plot. He’s still suffering and he will always struggle, because PTSD isn’t going to completely disappear, but he’s definitely ready to put in the work to achieve his next chapter and that gives him wonderful, relatable forward movement.

And don’t even get me started on how cute he is with Bryce’s nieces.

Change of plans will 100% make you laugh and cry in turns. The nieces are so hilariously, delightfully weird like real children, each with a distinct personality you can't help but love. Their grief, and their aunt’s, is so palpable and real and the way they try to build a life after tragedy will tug at your heartstrings and make you cheer for them in the good moments.

The romance between Bryce and Ryker is sweet and sexy at the same time, but I think most importantly is how knowing each other helps them grow, both individually and together. It’s the kind of relationship we’d all be lucky to have, tbh.

The only thing I disliked about this book is that this is the third book and there are no more Matthews brothers after this. It’s the best of the three, with the middle Matthews brother, Ryker, and town newcomer Bryce, who has come to care for her three nieces afte the death of her brother and sister-in-law. The jump from fun aunt/single girl to a pseudo-mother-of-three is a difficult one, so when Ryker jumps in to help her out when she has a situation at the grocery store, there’s an instant attraction between the pair. But Ryker is still dealing with his PTSD and loss of his lower leg, and Bryce is in the midst of a guardianship battle with her nieces’ maternal grandparents. But gruff, withdrawn Ryker can’t seem to help himself and forms a connection with the three young girls, and Bryce can’t deny her feelings for the man who hides himself except when he’s with her. But when your life is a mess, and you’re already battered and bruised, is it too good to be true and can you trust the good will last?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

This book was very charming! Bryce and Ryker are MCs that you want to root for from the beginning.

EVEYRTHING is going wrong for Bryce. She's having a hard time juggling her nieces, her career, and a romance. However, you can see that she's headstrong, really is trying, and you want her to succeed.

With Ryker, he's become very closed off after coming back from war. It was nice to witness him slowly break down his walls and open up to not just Bryce, but to everyone around him.

As for the romance, Bryce and Ryker were made for each other. Though I do wish we spent more time developing their relationship, the banter was adorable, and I loved that they mutually push each other to be better. Ryker is a thoughtful, cinnamon roll boyfriend and Bryce is very supportive and open, especially when it comes to learning about Ryker's PTSD.

The kids were also cute (while at times frustrating 😂)! I'm glad they were active participants in the plot instead of just being cast to the side.

Ok, now let's talk about the things that I didn't like so much.

The miscommunication trope was STRONG in this book and hinged a bit too much on it at times that it became a bit frustrating. Almost every conflict in this book could be resolved quickly with a simple conversation or phone call, particularly in the third act.

I also wish that there was better development in repairing the relationship between Bryce and her nieces. While we do get heartwarming moments between them, it's almost immediately followed by Bryce messing up again. It flip-flops too often for the relationship progression to feel natural, but in the end, we're told that the relationship is almost 100% better.

Telling is also something I think the book did a few times where I wish things were shown. An example of this is a particular conversation that Ryder must have with Bryce. We are told, instead of shown, that they have this conversation. It's such an important topic that I wish we had gotten to see it. Especially because of the build up for it throughout the book!

The ending also felt a bit rushed. Every conflict was solved the last few chapters and it was done way too cleanly/conveniently.

There was also a joke about pronouns made by a side character that made me very uncomfortable. The behavior was not corrected or truly addressed after it occurred. I wish the author took the time to at least educate how harmful that rhetoric is within the story.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton was a really enjoyable read for me!

Bryce Weatherford is forced to return home to take guardianship of her three nieces when her sister and brother-in-law are unexpectedly killed in a car accident. Things are never easy with kids, but with grieving children, they are even more challenging. She's dealing with that on top of the normal things, not to mention their grandparent's fighting for custody.

Ryker Matthews is an amputee after suffering an injury from an IED in Afghanistan. He is suffering from PTSD and is definitely the type who wants to swoop in and save the day. He ends up being in the right place at the right time and is able to help Bryce and the girls just when they need it most.

I really loved how Bryce and Ryker were there for one another. They supported one another and helped one another as they were both going through things, which was so important to their relationship. You just never know what route your life is supposed to take and often a change of plans is in store just when you least expect it.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for honest review**

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely adored this story. Watching Bryce and. Ryker fall in love completely melted my heart to mush,

After a tragic accident took the lives of Bryce Weatherford’s brother Bentley and his wife Heather, Bryce was given temporary guardianship of her 3 nieces, June, Cecily, and Addison. The story follows Bryce’s journey to discovering how to be a mom-like creature to three grieving children, The story begins with Ryker, a Marine Veteran amputee suffering from PTSD, assisting Bryce with the girls in the grocery store. It was nearly an instalove connection.

I loved following Bryce and Ryker’s journey through a dual POV story. It was nice to see both perspectives.

One part in this book actually made me ugly cry and it is when Ryker says “…She’s my six.” IYKYK. It warmed my heart to 1000 degrees.

While I binged the last 80% of this book in one sitting, I rated this novel as a 4.5 because the beginning felt incredibly slow for me. It took me a while to become invested in the story. I still cannot determine if it was busyness on my part or simply a slow start. But I felt it very hard to remain focused in the first 20%. After I made it there, it quickly gained momentum for me.

Read this book if you like:
-Dual POV
-Cinnamon Roll Hero
-PTSD/Disability Rep
-Small Town Romance
-mom-like creatures
-found family
-open door romance (but more like a very minimally cracked door)
-Veteran

Thank you so much NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Dylan Newton for the incredible opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Although this book could be cute and/or funny at times it relied to heavily on the miscommunication trope to be enjoyable for me. The synopsis sounded like it was going to be very interesting but the execution wasn’t the best. The plot and characters were flat and boring at times. I also wouldn’t call it a romance book first and foremost. It does have elements of romance but it’s more about found family than anything else.

This sweet, poignant, funny and entertaining book is one I will cherish and read over and over again. Ryker, Bryce and her nieces, Addison, Cecile and June stole my heart. They have all experienced unimaginable loss and are struggling to cope with their tangled emotions and find away forward in life. A chance meeting in a grocery store aisle turns out to be the catalyst to a new beginning for all of them.

Ryker, a veteran and amputee, has grown increasingly distant from family and friends since his return to town a few years ago. He is struggling with both mental and physical health problems and doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone else. Meeting Bryce and her nieces in the grocery store brightened his day and gave him a glimpse of what life could be until PTSD flashback sent him into full retreat mode. When the sexy new chef at his mother’s cafe actually approaches him without showing pity, Ryker is stunned. Fate seems to delight in throwing them together and neither Ryker and Bryce are unhappy about that. Bryce has taken guardianship of her three young nieces after the death of her brother and his wife. Even after months together, the girls and Bryce are still struggling to find their footings and be a cohesive unit. Bryce loves Ryker’s easy rapport with the girls, even moody and rebellious June. Time and time again, Ryker shows Bryce and her nieces his compassion, his gigantic warm heart and his willingness to be silly if it will make them happy. Though Bryce is often overwhelmed, stressed and overworked, Ryker seems to bring a sense of calmness and renewed hope to her life. Passion flares between them, even in the midst of their often chaotic lives. With the custody hearing for her nieces looming and his continuing health problems, is this the right time for a new relationship between them? Will they retreat or band together to fight for a happily ever after.?

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review

For some reason this took me a while to read, but I absolutely adored it. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series and I’m not ready for it to be over, but this was a wonderful ending. We’ve seen bits of Ryker in the first two books, but I loved getting to really know him. I know Bryce was technically the aunt/guardian of her nieces, but all of the parenting/caregiving moments were so realistic and relatable.

I loved how Ryker and Bryce just seemed to connect and to really being out the good in each other. It seemed like their bond developed quickly but it really made sense for them. I also enjoyed how Ryker handled his PTSD and the storyline with Six. There are so many books where characters ignore therapy as an option and it was great to see both characters mention a healthy relationship with it.

This is such a great series and I hope we’ll have more books from Dylan Newton to look forward to soon!