Much like How Sweet It Is (the first book in this series), this book started out pretty strong for me and then dipped in the middle. It ended with one of the most annoying 3rd acts I've ever read. I liked several aspects of it, but the romance was nowhere near my favorite part.

After tragedy strikes, Bryce is left to care for her three precocious nieces, and they are not making life easy. Dealing with tween angst and kid drama is hard enough, but now their grandparents are fighting Bryce for custody. When she has a meet cute in the grocery store with Ryker Matthews, Bryce is immediately charmed but knows that the timing isn't ideal. Ryker also is dealing with PTSD from his time as a Marine. Can they make a relationship work with all of these outside obstacles?

My favorite part of this book was the found family aspect. These sweet girls were grieving, and I loved how they became a true family throughout the book. The conflict with the grandparents was predictable, but interesting. I also liked Bryce's journey to discovering what she wanted out of life, and how she reconciled her giving up her past life to be a mother to the girls. Bryce and Ryker were really cute as they got to know each other. I liked them as a couple and felt like they meshed together well as a family. What drove me crazy about this book was the 3rd act. There was zero communication and I could see it coming from a mile away. The resolution was lackluster for me. More groveling please!

This book was cute, but I was hoping for more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eARC copy of this beautiful book and the chance to provide my candid review. Thanks to @wordnerdbookworm for the chance to participate in the traveling paperback ARC fun.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Superb and original and adorable meet-cute!
🤩 Yay for the grocery store super hero.
🤩 Laugh-out-loud moments, even among serious topics, tragedy, and grief.
🤩 Be ready—it’s heart-wrenching. Thank goodness with all the feels.
🤩 Amazing characters flirting and finding their way. The dedication page and representation.
🤩 Bryce, our fabulous FMC is a an amazing, hard-working single “mother-like creature.”
🤩 Ryker, our smashing MMC is a physically disabled marine veteran with PTSD who runs his own body shop garage.
🤩 Deliciously described food and physical attraction.
🤩 The therapy dog representation stole my heart!
🤩 Sweet friends and family—meet them in How Sweet It Is and All Fired Up before this one comes out August 1st. It can read as a standalone, but the first two brothers’ love stories are so worth it.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 The not communicating is understandable but tough.
💫 Maybe just a reread. I feel like I rushed it.

Thrilled to finally get Ryker’s story! This story was full of humor and heart as Bryce and Ryker cope with unexpected tragedies. The dual POV follows the two coming to terms with their new reality and realizing their baggage isn’t enough to stop their feelings for each other. This story was my favorite of the series as it beautifully shows hope without glossing over the reality of trauma, loss, and grief—yet, it also makes you laugh out loud. It’s a five star romcom that’s a quick read you don’t want to miss! Plus there’s a really cute dog that will melt your heart 🤗

Bryce Weatherford, a promising chef in Tampa, Florida, experiences a life-altering event when her elder brother passes away. The reading of his will reveals an unexpected responsibility: Bryce is appointed as the guardian of his three daughters - June, a tween, 8-year-old Cecily, and 5-year-old Addison. This sudden turn of events sets the stage for a significant shift in Bryce's life as she takes on the role of caregiver for her nieces.

Ryker Matthews, a Marine veteran who lost a limb during his years in Afghanistan, copes with the persistent agony of phantom limb pain and a condition known as heterotopic ossification—abnormal bone growth in soft tissues following severe trauma. To occupy his time and find solace, he immerses himself in the role of a town mechanic and restorer of vintage muscle cars. However, as he undergoes rehabilitation and endeavors to readjust to civilian life, he grapples with severe social anxiety and nightly debilitating nightmares caused by his PTSD.

Bryce and Ryker have a disastrous meet cute in the baby aisle at the local grocery store where Cecily gets stuck underneath a shelf and Ryker has a PTSD flashback and tries to protect the girls when three bottles of baby food fall from the shelves. Ryker is instantly attracted to Bryce but is embarrassed by his flashback to ask her out. He rushes from the store and doesn't buy anything in his cart. He's chastising himself by his truck when she approaches him and gives him a bag of his groceries and her business card.

Bryce thought she struck out when he never texted her or came to the restaurant she worked in, but when her car stopped working he came to her rescue. After that moment their relationship blossomed and the sexual tension was incredible!

Despite usually being a reason for me to stop reading, the miscommunication trope in this book surprisingly fits. Ryker's PTSD and his determination to shield his loved ones resonate with the experiences of other veterans I know. His situations and anxieties lend credibility and relatability to the miscommunication trope, making it work effectively in the story.

I HIGHLY recommend this book if you want a feel-good romance with minimal spice!

Absolutely loved the story of Bryce and Ryker!!! Bryce has found herself a single mom to her nieces after the parents pass and she’s at a breaking point. She meets Ryker, former marine, who is suffering from PTSD. The chemistry between them is so sweet and I absolutely loved reading their story unfold.

This was my first book by Dylan Newton and I can’t wait to read more!!!

Bryce is unexpectedly now a single parent to her three nieces after her brother and sister in law are killed in an accident. June is in full teenager mode and barely speaks to her, Addison is obsessed with and won’t take off her fairy wings, and Cecily won’t bathe or let Bryce wash her clothes. Meanwhile Ryker is lucky to be alive after serving in the Marines, but his PTSD is holding him back from living his life. When the two cross paths, the chemistry is immediate but could this change of plans ruin everything?

Ahh I love Dylan Newton and was so glad to be back with our crew! The chemistry between Ryker and Bryce was immediate and had me shipping them from page one. I felt so much for Bryce as she tried to help her three nieces deal with their grief after the loss of their parents. Add in maternal Grandparents fighting her for custody and I just wanted to give her a hug. Then you have Ryker whose issues just broke my heart. I adored him but definitely wanted to give him some pointers on how to communicate with women! As expected, I loved this one and cant wait for what Newton gives us next!

I’ve enjoyed this series of books about the Matthews brothers. It isn’t listed as a series but the Matthews are the males leads in How Sweet It Is and All Fired Up. I have read, reviewed and enjoyed those books as well. Ryker Matthews has a below knee amputation from injuries while serving in the Marines in Afghanistan. I really like that the cover includes this in its depiction. He still suffers from PTSD but runs his own garage. He meets Bryce Weatherford at the grocery store in a very funny cute meet. Bryce was a rising chef in Tampa when her brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident leaving custody of their three children. The kids are still grieving and dealing with that in different moody or acting out ways. Bryce is overwhelmed but trying her best. The kids maternal grandparents are pressing to get custody adding a layer of stress.

In the kind of coincidence only found in books it turns out that Bryce actually works at his mothers diner. She also lives in an apartment above it. (Not sure what happened to the kids home.) Bryce is open outgoing and flirty and for once Ryker is responding. The story is lighter than I’m describing and a lot of that comes from how open Bryce and Ryker are. It also helps that Ryker is trying to help the kids as much as trying to get to know her. This is a sweet story with some passion. It can be read as a stand alone but I enjoyed catching up with the previous characters I already know. I think this last is my favorite in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

I thought this was going to be a road trip story. lol. But when it turned out to be something entirely different, I was so pleased. Change of plans is the story of Bryce, a chef and career woman who becomes the guardian of her three nieces. When she meets Ryker in the midst of a grocery store nightmare, she doesn't expect to like him to very much. His PTSD keeps him from fully investing in people and her unexpected life changes keep her from having time to consider romance. But together they find themselves and happiness through a LOT of adventure.

This reminded me so much of Gru and the girls from Despicable Me. (I love this movie) and I loved watching Bryce find herself as a mom-type person and find her way to be what the girls and herself both need. It was sweet and heartwarming with the steam and romance that we crave.

This is the third book I’ve read by Dylan Newton, and all of them are 5-star reads! Change of Plans is my favorite so far. I've been eagerly waiting for Ryker's story since he was introduced in his brothers' books, and I wasn't disappointed. The story is funny, heartwarming, and romantic, and I adored it!

I think Ryker is officially my favorite of the Matthews brothers. His story is so compelling, and the way he is with Bryce and her nieces is positively swoon-worthy. I love that beneath his grumpy exterior there’s a big soft cinnamon roll. He’s sensitive and thoughtful and a great support to Bryce and her girls. My word, the things he does for them are so lovely. From building forts to arranging tutoring to buying out the local pharmacy for sanitary supplies, this guy is total girl-dad material!

Even as Ryker faces PTSD, anxiety, complications with his amputation, night terrors, and several other issues, he still thinks of others and how to help them. He’s such a layered character, and his journey from a closed-off, reclusive veteran to a more open and communicative man is so fantastic to see. That’s not to say all of his and the other characters’ problems are all wrapped up nicely and happily. Instead, his story, as well as Bryce and her nieces, is a realistic look at growth and healing.

After the tragic death of her brother and sister-in-law, Bryce became her nieces’ guardian. Now, months later, Bryce is juggling single motherhood amidst a battle for custody. I loved her character! Bryce is such a strong, fun, and determined woman, and she has more patience than most people I know. And it’s a good thing because this woman has a lot on her plate. Between work, taking care of the girls, and preparing for her upcoming custody trial, Bryce sacrifices a lot to be the best “mom-like creature” for her nieces. It’s interesting because, at the surface, Bryce seems like a chaotic, hot mess, but if you look deeper, you see how great she is with the girls, how understanding and hard-working she is, and just how much she underestimates herself and her love for June, Cecily, and Addison.

Bryce’s nieces are also dynamic characters with distinct personalities that I totally recognize from the different phases my own kids went through. I, too, had an angsty and snarky twelve-year-old, and I can still remember when my daughter wouldn’t take off her tutu and wings. lol These girls put their aunt through the wringer! Some of their antics are downright comical, and others are heartbreaking, as the girls and Bryce struggle with their grief and the changes that came with the loss. Supermarket snafus’, first periods, frustrating grandparents, holidays that go entirely wrong, and so many other situations are relatable and realistic. I thought Newton did a great job of creating fully realized kids with big feelings and different ways of handling and dealing with things. And I’m thinking I might interject the “hug emergency” into my life. Love it!

And then there’s the romance. Sigh! Bryce and Ryker are amazing together. Both have baggage, and each worries that their life might be too much for the other to handle. But from their very first meeting, you could feel a connection between them. In some ways, Ryker and Bryce are very different, especially in how they communicate, but they actually complement each other well. They both show how much they care for each other in their day-to-day acts and thoughtful gestures, and their chemistry is fantastic! Their love story is gradual, and I enjoyed how this broken and flawed and wonderful couple finds their happily ever after together.

A very special thanks to Forever Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Another amazing book by Dylan!!
Wow. Absolutely my favorite of her novels.
Do yourself a favor and read this!

This was hilarious and charming! From the very beginning when they met I was intrigued. He’s interesting and she’s interesting; I needed them together! Bryce and Ryker were perfect for each other.

This is basically a story about a young woman who has had her life completely uprooted by the death of her brother and sister in law. And she meets a marine veteran dealing with PTSD.

This is just as much about Bryce and Ryder as it is about Bryce and her nieces. The story is easy to read. I like that the drama was real and gut wrenching at times but it’s also soft. There was a handful of teary eyed moments but it didn’t create anxiety. Reading this book was fun and relaxing.

I’m surprised to say this but I loved the kids! Usually I hate romances with children involved. But these girls are so precious. They’ve had a rough time and I just wanted to see them happy.

This is a great feel good read. It’s the 3rd book in the Matthews brothers series. It can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend starting with How Sweet It Is and then All Fired Up because those characters are very involved in this book. It would be nice to know everyone in the series and their stories beforehand.

4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed this book. I found funny and charming, while also realistically dealing with issues like grief and PTSD. I was a bit frustrated with the conflict caused by Ryker’s lack of communication—it felt like it dragged a bit too much—but it did make sense overall. I especially loved the way the book shined a light on Paws of War, an organization that I have coincidentally admired for years!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for giving me a copy of this book for my honest feedback.

Miscommunication is always a tough trope and can often be frustrating for some readers. However, Dylan Newton has written a lovely and heartwarming story which leverages this tactic while keeping the reader engaged! This is the first of Dylan’s books I have read, I didn’t even realize it was a part of a series until well into the book. So this book can absolutely be read as a stand alone. I look forward to reading the first two in the series and hopefully bringing in all three titles to our store to close out the summer.

Change of plans is the heartwarming story of Bryce, a career chef who has recently been given guardianship of her three nieces following the death of her brother and sister-in-law. She feels as though everything is going wrong and doesn’t want to add a relationship to the chaos. But then she meets Ryker, a recovering war veteran who has some issues of his own to work through. Can they find their way to each other despite the chaos, or will they give in to fear and get in their own way?
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the cast of characters. I didn’t really like all of the miscommunication, especially in the latter part of the book. And there are two chapters in the middle that are almost completely open door scenes that I ended up skimming/skipping. For these reasons, I’m rating Changes of Plans 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Read this if you like/like reading about:
-The movie Raising Helen with Kate Hudson
-Meet cutes
-Single parents
-Family drama and reconciliation
-War veterans on a journey to healing
-Service animals

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This isn’t a named series, but the last three releases by this author are connected. How Sweet It Is features the oldest Matthews brother, horror writer Drake, and event planner, Kate Sweet. I enjoyed their story quite a bit. The main characters of the second book, All Fired Up, are Zander Matthews and his love, book publicist, Imani Lewis. I didn’t love this one, but I think it was mainly because of the pacing. Change of Plans is Ryker’s book and he is paired with a woman who finds herself suddenly the guardian of her three young nieces after the death of her brother and his wife, Bryce Weatherford.

I found myself zipping through this romance. Don’t get me wrong, there is a heck of a lot of angst and drama, mainly due to Bryce’s new circumstances as guardian to her nieces and Ryker’s PTSD and below-the-knee amputation. But nevertheless, I couldn’t stop flipping pages. These characters were charming and funny, and their chemistry was apparent right from their first meeting in the grocery store when one of Bryce’s nieces accidentally smacks Ryker in the nuts with her sword.

I really enjoyed the way these two were on the same wavelength humor wise, it’s like they just “got” each other right from the start. This makes their growing relationship rather easy, despite Bryce’s struggles in her new parental role and Ryker’s desire to stay to himself. And let’s face it, each of them is in a place in their lives where a casual relationship won’t work. I kind of felt like both of them were pretty much all in from the beginning. The miscommunication trope is heavily leaned on in the last 25% or so, and it frustrated me, but I did kind of get why the author chose to use it to bring this couple together.

This story felt balanced between the challenges each character faced- PTSD, limb amputation, and caregiver rep- and the lighter scenes. Each main character handles the other’s struggles wonderfully- with empathy, kindness, and understanding. I really liked the ending and the found family aspect. Especially, when Bryce and the grandparents finally make a choice to work together. I can’t finish without mentioning Bryce’s nieces, who were a joy, and each of their personalities so well-crafted.

Change of Plans is a sweet, heartwarming romance and you’ll want to put it on your TBR.

Grade- B+

Holy crap, this was SO GOOD! I loved the character's individual stories (Bryce has become guardian of her three young nieces after a tragic accident, very Finding Helen style; Ryker is a Marine vet facing PTSD and life as an amputee) and then the chemistry between them was excellent! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC--it comes out Aug 1/23!
But also: I didn't realize until reading the author's acknowledgments that this is the last in a trilogy so now I need to read the first two!! (I met the MCs from each book but not details of their stories).

Bryce Weatherford’s life is as full, chaotic, and complicated as it can get having been the guardian of her three nieces for the last few months. Juggling a full time job in a cafe (a step down from the fancy chef she was in her previous, kid-free life), balancing three schedules of busy kids, continuing to monitor everyone’s mental health in the wake of her brother and sister-in-law’s untimely deaths, and preparing for a legal fight with her brother’s in-laws over guardianship of the girls- she has a LOT going on. Enter Ryker Matthews, a veteran amputee, grumpy recluse mechanic who steps in to help Bryce out of an awkward grocery store situation (seriously though- whose kid gets themselves stuck UNDER the shelves?!). Ryker and Bryce are instantly drawn to each other and seem to bring out the best in each other. Ryker quickly becomes a calming force and second set of hands to help Bryce out, all the while giving her a shoulder to cry on and vent on when she's overwhelmed. Bryce makes Ryker laugh, drawing him out of the box he’s put himself in since he was injured in the line of duty. She doesn’t seem to be nervous about his PTSD and her chaotic life makes Ryker want to help and protect her and the three girls he’s quickly becoming attached to. When life becomes even more complicated for the both of them, will their growing connection and genuine attraction for each other be enough to get them through these hurdles when their relationship is only just beginning?

—------------------------------------

This was my first Dylan Newton book even though it is the third in a series (it can be read as a standalone), but it won’t be my last. I found this book to be absolutely heartfelt and charming, full of love and grief, hope and belly laughs. Bryce and Ryker were well written characters with heart and humor. Bryce describes Ryker as “the man with the leg of metal and the heart of gold” and she’s not wrong. He’s so wonderfully flawed and fantastic all at the same time. Bryce exudes the kind of messy energy I love in a female main character- strong, sassy, tough, but able to let her soft heart show and be vulnerable. The three nieces were completely non-annoying as kid characters, so funny and sweet and heartbreaking. The grandparents trying to take over guardianship were perfectly over-the-top and their redemption towards the end was great. While an open-door romance, there’s only one steamy scene that is fairly tame. I flew through this book mainly because I couldn’t put it down, and will definitely be going on to read the other two in the series. This is a 4.5 star rounded up to a 5 for me!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sweet book between Ryker and Bryce. I loved the premise of it. This is the first book by Dylan Newton that I have read, and I want to to back and read her other ones now.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the series, and I've been lucky enough to read the previous two. I have to say, this is the book that had me close to tears several times, in a good way.
Bryce and Ryker have had the most tragic circumstances thrust into their lives, and they've had to muddle through it and put on a brave face. What wonderful characters they are.
The interactions with the girls were spot on, so the author must know some kids or have some of her own.
The moment Ryker met Six made my heart melt!
The whole story was wonderful really, a great end to the series.
4.5 stars

I loved Bryce and Ryker!

Bryce Weatherford had stepped up as guardian for her nieces when her brother and sister-in-law died in a car accident but maybe she wasn’t made to raise three girls on her own. But things started to look up when Cecily was rescued by Ryker.

Ryker Matthews was still trying to deal with his injuries from Afghanistan and being around people somedays was more than he wanted to deal with but there was something about Bryce that kept him coming back around.

I absolutely loved Change of Plans because there are so many times you have to step up and do the best you can when life gives you lemons but sometimes there are people like Ryker that will help you make the lemonade especially with the help of the family you make.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Hands down ABSOLUTELY my favorite book of the Matthews brothers trilogy. Ryker Matthews' stern marine to Bryce's bubbly chef was chemistry in the making, but adding in the gaggle of children just melted my ovaries. Literally Cici is an angel who can do no wrong. While a bit on the sweeter side of romance, it doesn't shy away from tough topics like PTSD, custody battles, and trauma. I can't speak to the accuracy of their portrayal, but they felt real to me. I love the Weatherford family so much now and seeing them interact with the couples from previous books was downright precious. I'd recommend this to fans of The Godparent Trap and Cheaper by the Dozen.

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*