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*

This was a sweet rom com story of two people who found each other at the right time. The beginning scene of the book where they meet at the grocery store is hilarious and really set the bar high for me. Maybe too high?! The middle of the book, I found myself annoyed with the characters in the book. I don't know why? In this book you've got the found family trope, the miscommunication trope, mentions of dementia and grief, veterans/amputees, PTSD and adoption/guardianship. I did love the relationship and interactions Ryker had with Bryce's three nieces; he was so good with the kids.

Recommended read: yes I would recommend it for a feel good sweet, heartwarming rom com story

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
@readforeverpub

This is the third and final book featuring the Matthews brothers, and it was so good. This can stand alone, but as always, I recommend reading entire series in order.

Bryce moved to upstate New York to become a guardian for her nieces after their parents unexpectedly died. She's struggling with the transition to being a "mom-like creature." And Ryker, the mysterious stranger, helps her out in the grocery store.

Ryker is such a phenomenal character and always intrigued me. He is dealing with PTSD, and I felt the book provided great insight there. I enjoyed seeing each of his brothers and their love interests again.

But what especially made this book for me was the girls. They were such well-rounded and nuanced characters. This book went quite well into the ways in which we handle grief and was ultimately so real and so hopeful. I know this will be one I will read again.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

CW: Dementia, grief

This book involved a lot of heart! I loved it at some points, but then I was bored at others. I felt like the two main characters Ryker and Bryce had so much personal trauma and tragedies going on, that it barely felt like any sort of romance even happened… which is what I was expecting. Overall though it did come together, and looking back, there was alot of love, family, and good times throughout the book… although it was well written, I just don’t know if it was for me. I know others will absolutely love the huge family dynamic though, so please pick it up if you feel that this might be for you!

I recommend this book if you enjoy:
- cute, heartwarming reads
- personal growth
- closed door romances
- huge family vibes
- reading about healing from trauma
- tons of personal drama
- miscommunication tropes
- silly mishaps

Title: Change of Plans
Author: Dylan Newton
Length: 368
Format: ebook ARC
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
Genre: RomCom, Contemporary Romance, ChickLit
Trigger Warnings: PTSD, previous death of a family member, pretty descriptive vomit scene
Rating Out of 5: 5
Thoughts:
Super charming! I loveddddd! I loved the endless humor. I loved the mental illness and disability representation. I loved the blended/found family trope. I loved the “hug emergencies”. Is men buying period products a trope? Because that’s in here too, and I’m here for it. Dylan Newton does it YET AGAIN. 😍

Bryce’s brother and sister-in-law die in a tragic car accident in which she inherited guardianship of her 3 nieces (who totally reminded me of the sister from Despicable Me). She’s a young, single lady who is an excellent chef! But between juggling grieving the death of her brother, working long hours to earn enough money to battle the grandparents for custody, and helping her three nieces navigate their own grief and growing up, there’s no room for a live life.
Enter Ryker, the adorably socially awkward retired Marine who lost part of his leg and his friend. He’s battling PTSD and is more comfortable working on cars in his shop than encountering any social interaction. Until he meets Bryce and her 3 nieces. Will they help him out of his shell? Will he live up to his superhero pirate reputation the nieces have declared? Is there a huge miscommunication trope up in here? 😮‍💨

Other books in this series: How Sweet it Is, All Fired Up

Special thanks to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Dylan Newton for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ryker Matthews, Zander and Drake’s brother, is a retired Marine turned mechanic who struggles with PTSD and phantom limb pain after his below-the-knee amputation. Bryce Weatherford is a chef at PattyCakes who is struggling to adjust to her new role as a guardian of her three young nieces after a terrible accident—Addison refuses to take off her fairy wings and is wetting the bed, 8-year-old Cecily won’t bathe, and June has a grumpy and sassy attitude. On top of that, Bryce is struggling with lawyer fees since the Weatherford girls’ grandparents are petitioning the court for sole custody. After Ryker and Bryce bond over a mishap at the grocery store, they strike up a friendship and end up becoming much-needed shoulders for each other to lean on. Despite their instant attraction, Bryce doesn’t feel like it’s the right time for romance…but maybe a “change of plans” is just what she needs.

Change of Plans is part of a series of interconnected standalones about the Matthews brothers with the main moral of the story is that it’s okay to ask for and accept help. This small-town romantic comedy is perfect for fans of books like Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings, The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains, and Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score, along with movies like Raising Helen and Gifted. Potential trigger warnings include PTSD and military flashbacks, custody disagreements, loss of parents, vomiting, broken bones, and dementia. Themes include change, communication (and miscommunication), parenthood and motherhood, family, war, mental health, fear of failure, death and loss, love and sacrifice, loneliness, trust, heroism, challenges of growing up, and working-class struggles.

It was enjoyable how Newton described the process of applying for and being matched with a service dog as I thought that this was very interesting and unique; it’s not something that I’ve seen very often (if at all) in romantic comedies. The meaning behind the service dog’s name was also very heartwarming! Personally, I appreciated that Change of Plans was an interconnected standalone as I find that it’s easier for me to get into the plot since I’m already familiar with the setting and a lot of the characters. There was some hesitancy regarding how Bryce’s nieces would appear and if the three of them would distract from the plot, however their hilarious antics were enjoyable, including a “laugh out loud” disastrous Easter party and all the Tinkerbell references.

The custody disputes and the PTSD flashbacks were a little harder to read as these topics as sensitive, so it will be interesting to discover what other readers think of them too. The side story involving the brothers mother, Patty, wasn’t overly interesting as it didn’t seem to do a lot for the plot and lastly, the miscommunication trope was disappointing as it’s one of my least favourite tropes and appeared multiple times.

Overall, Change of Plans is a funny and heartwarming page turner and would be perfect for fans of romantic comedies and single parent romances.

This is my first Dylan Newton book, not realizing this is book three of the Matthews'' brother series, and it was a cute read. I'm sure I missed certain character things from previous books, but I did like how seamlessly Bryce fit into the small town to take care of her nieces. As fun as Aunt Beamer (Bryce's nickname) is, I found that I wanted more with Ryker and his journey. The entire military vet, PTSD, amputee story line is something we don't see often in romance that I found his perspective more intriguing than Bryce's. Her storyline reminded me of the Kate Hudson movie Raising Helen, so I had a hard time separating the two. I think my issue with the book is that they're both dealing with real traumas that I wish we could've gone deeper with the healing process. Everything seemed to wrap up too nicely in a bow without the work put in. That said, I did enjoy many aspects of the book.