I adore mom-like creatures. Change of Plans was entertaining and had some laugh out loud moments. It also had a lot of heavy content - all the characters dealing with some big issues - and I would recommend that you ask about those if you're a sensitive reader.

This was a very middle of the road read for me. I enjoyed it, but I didn't give it a lot of thought... and I think if I did take the time to parse through it all, it might lose some of its allure. In many ways, I didn't think the storyline was realistic (but I acknowledge it IS fiction...) and I'm also not sure either MC was in any way ready for a healthy relationship. One thing that struck me is I was picturing each little girl as the characters from Despicable Me in my mind... and felt maybe just as chaotic.

I have been sitting here for a solid half an hour writing and rewriting my review for this book. I just don’t know how to put the emotions I am feeling into words but y’all I’m gonna try.

First, as an adoptee I have a soft spot for any book that features adoption/guardianship. In this book Bryce, who was previously working as a saucier at a fancy restaurant, becomes the guardian to her three nieces basically overnight after her brother and his wife pass away. So she moves back home, gets a job at a local diner, and gets to work trying to be the best, as she puts it, “mom-like creature” that she can be. Things can be a little messy sometimes which I feel is a given when you have three kids who just recently lost their parents but Bryce really does her best and it’s clear that she loves the girls. I think the author handled the complexities of grief and the guardianship process with a lot of care which made the read just that much better.

Now, this is a romance so of course we need to talk about Ryker Matthews. Ryker is this guy who seems grumpy on the outside but honestly is just the sweetest guy. He’s always trying to help those around him, especially Bryce. There’s a scene where June, one of the nieces, gets her first period and Ryker surprises them with basically every menstrual product that the store has.

Ryker and Bryce have moments when they both just feel like they might be “too much” for each other to handle. Bryce is worried that he won’t be able to handle the fact that she’s raising three, grieving children and Ryker worries that his PTSD might be too much for her. Ultimately, I think they’re perfect for each other because they care so much. Bryce really puts in the work to understand how to help Ryker through his flashbacks and Ryker just shows up for Bryce and the girls constantly. I love them and loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, @readforeverpub, and Dylan Newton for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

“Change of Plans” by Dylan Newton is the third novel in a series of stand-alone stories centered around the Matthews’ brothers. “How Sweet It Is” was Newton’s contemporary debut and starred Drake, a horror novelist with writer’s block who secretly decided to write historical romance instead of living up to reputation of the Knight of Nightmares. The second novel, “All Fired Up”, focuses on the story of Zander and Imani, who find themselves with a second chance to get things right. Finally, the third Matthews brother gets his time to shine.
Not that he wants it. Ryker Matthews would do anything to ignore spotlight and hide in his mechanic shop cave if you’d let him. Making small appearances throughout the first two novels as the broody and surly gearhead, Ryker is a rough around the edges kind of guy, but readers who paid attention have known from the beginning that he is a big softie with a heart of gold.

“Love is probably the only thing on this planet worth fighting for. Worth losing everything for.”
How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

We Love A Strong Woman
Bryce Weatherford is bold. Unafraid. Honest and straightforward. Raising her three orphaned nieces, balancing a full time job, and handling it all while attempting to gain full custody was not something easily managed, but Bryce handles it all with grace.
She seems to cut through the games and deception, and might really be Ryker’s missing part. He just needs to get out of his own way. Bryce and Ryker speak the same language, and in this crazy world that’s not always easy to find.

I knew that Ryker was going to be my favorite from the beginning. So much so that I bombarded Dylan Newton’s inboxes with my Ryker love and devotion, and begged her to give us more from his point of view. She knew what she was doing, and thankfully shared that her plan was for each brother to have his own time to shine. What I love about Dylan Newton’s books is that in addition to the love stories, there is always some kind of lesson that shows people being better than when we initially met them.

“How Sweet It Is” will show you that stepping out of your comfort zone can not only be beneficial, but bring you great joy. With big risks comes big rewards. “All Fired Up” tells us that sometimes second chances are worth it, and that we should try to get out of our own way and make room for something new. “Change of Plans” proves that the only constant in life is change, and that we have to be flexible in order to weather the storm.
I’m sad to see the Matthews’ brothers stories end. I’ve enjoyed getting to spend time in Wellsville, New York. I hope we’ll be able to visit again soon.

Book : Change of Plans
Author : Dylan Newton
Pub Date : 01 Aug 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Do you enjoy:
- Strangers—Lovers
- Found Family
- Miscommunication
- Dual POV

This book was an adorable story around Bryce & Ryker. Bryce is raising her brothers children and Ryker enters and that’s when their relationship starts. I loved these two and watching them navigate their relationship and raising the three girls.

I sped through this fun small town romance that gave me all of the feels—happiness, sadness etc. You feel like you’re right there with Ryker and Bryce. Character and world building is amazing and the storyline is just what I’d hoped for.

Absolutely a must have book on your shelf or kindle. Put this on your TBR if you haven’t yet. You will fall in love with Dylan’s writing immediately. Can’t wait for more from her!!!

This is the third book in the Matthew brothers series. I do think it ended up being my favorite. I’ve been looking forward to Ryker’s story since I read the first book. The meet-cute in the beginning was hilarious! 😂 I loved that children were a big part of the story and the chaos and messiness that comes with life when you have kids.

Bryce and Ryker had a lot they were dealing with individually, though. Perhaps too much and it took away from the romance part of the story at times. Ryker also had a huge communication problem in general. At times I wanted to shake him. And anytime he was about to explain something and be honest something crazy would happen. 😵‍💫 It got old. And there was a big miscommunication in the third act and that trope is annoying to me.

I did still enjoy the story, but I had to bump down the rating for all of the miscommunication and the storyline with the grandparents.

5 stars!

Dylan Newton is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are just what I like - easy reads with some depth to them, and just the right amount of spice. Also, knowing that she lives in Florida for part of the year, I enjoy finding her Florida "Easter eggs" whether it's a reference to Florida-made Tervis Tumblers or the Florida State Fair.

Bryce and Ryker aren't looking for a relationship. Bryce is dealing with a relocation from the Tampa Bay area to upstate New York, due to the loss of her brother and his wife. They named Bryce as custodian of their three daughters - which is being vehemently contested by the wife's parents. To say she's got her hands full is the understatement of the year!

Ryker isn't good at peopling, ever since Afghanistan. The loss of his leg and his PTSD don't make him very good company.

But, these two are drawn to each other like moths to a flame and it's so much fun to be along for the ride. This was my favorite of the Matthews Brothers series - sad to see it come to an end. But, I have faith there will be more great stories from Dylan Newton in the future!

Thank you to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

the story of a mechanic who experiences PTSD from his service 🪖 and a woman with newly adopted nieces 👩‍👧‍👧 - this romance is swoon worthy! the characters are so lovable 💕 and easy to root for!

I thought this book was sweet and so endearing! I haven’t read the rest of the series and believe it can be a standalone for sure.

I love the single parent trope, mental health rep, & small town setting.

Bryce has a change in life plans when her brother and his wife are killed in a car accident and she becomes the legal guardian of their three girls, June, Cecily, and Addison. Bryce is used to being in the kitchen and changes her course to move to their town and start working at Patty Cakes so she can keep the girls. She also has to deal with the girls grandparents from their mothers side stepping in and trying to take custody. When she is having some problems, Ryker, who is the son of the owner of Patty Cakes, steps in and just so happens to be great with the girls. He is dealing with his own past which includes a below-the-knee amputation and some struggles with PTSD. Will they be able to help each other through their struggles or be more of a distraction?

This book gave me all the good feels. I loved how Bryce had to kinda earn to love of her nieces. They had just been through something extremely traumatic and even though she loved them and was doing what was right for them, they had to see it from a different perspective. She tried to connect with each one in ways they needed which was adorable. Ryker and his want to protect her, even from himself, was very military like. I feel that somethings guys who have faced hard times like that are just scared to let anyone in and see that they need help. Their love was so sweet and I love that they finally were able to let each other in. I also adored the Golden Retriever, Six’y’ who came in at the end.

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the free book.
I have been anxiously awaiting Ryker's book, and it was just so good. I loved him as the main character. His story was deep, with being a former Marine and all of the trauma he endured because of that. I am so glad Newton paired him up with someone like Bryce. She had so much going on with trying to gain guardianship of her nieces, yet there was a lot of fun, openness, and honesty between her and Ryker. I appreciated this glimpse into what is was like to become a guardian and what being in charge of children suddenly can do to someone's life. It was fun to see these characters grow to enjoy each other's company, and the banter was spot on. The Matthews' brothers were so much fun to read about, and I'm so happy with the conclusion of this series.

Bryce has recently become the guardian for her 3 nieces. She is overwhelmed and just trying to get by when she and the girls unexpectedly meet Ryker Matthews in a very funny meet cute. Ryker has been out of the military for a few years and has become a bit of a recluse while recovering from his amputation and dealing with his PTSD. The three girls and Bryce start to open up his life and despite both Bryce and Ryker in places where they don't feel open to a relationship, they also can't seem to stay away from each other.

What this has:
- Small Town Romance
- Disability Rep
- Found Family
- Single Guardian/Parent
- Cinnamon Roll hero
- Slow Burn Romance

I haven't read the other books in this series, and can confirm that you don't need to - at no point did I feel lost in the story or confused about the characters. I'm sure if I had read the others, I would have been excited to see the past couples in this story, but again it didn't detract at all.

The two major plot points of this story - the custody fight/guardianship arrangement and the PTSD rep - were both well done in my opinion. You can tell the author put a lot of care into both aspects, she mentions in her author's note how challenging it was to write about experiences that were not her own.

I liked both Bryce and Ryker together and separately - I thought their banter was pretty good and I bought their chemistry pretty early. I adored how Ryker was with the three girls and how sweet and cinnamon roll-y he became despite appearing as a grump in the beginning.

I often shy away from books that have kids in them because I often find them annoying or unrealistic. But I actually found all 3 nieces incredibly well done and could have seen all of them as being actual real life kids.

I didn't love the miscommunication here, it did feel a bit excessive. The other piece that really bothered me is when Ryker gets a makeover from the girls - he had fun and didn't think anything of it, which I loved to see! However, his brothers see him with the makeover and make some comments that are pretty transphobic and making fun of pronouns.... and their comments were not challenged at all. This just felt harmful and completely unnecessary.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, Forever, and Dylan Newton for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. And thank you to @bookmom22 for including me in this traveling ARC - this was such a fun experience! Change of Plans publishes 8/1.

Finally, we get grumpy Ryker's story! I love a good grumpy/sunshine and this book did not disappoint.

Read this one for:
- Small town romance
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Disability rep
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- He is GONE FOR HER

The middle child of the the three Matthews brothers finally gets his spotlight. Ryker Matthews is a wounded war vet with prosthetic resulting from his war injury. He hasn't been able to really assimilate since he's been back home. While he run his business of car restoration, he prefers to be alone not interacting with anyone, even his family. His PTSD is still a present issue for him in his day to day life.

Bryce Weatherford has fallen into being the primary caregiver of her three nieces under the age of twelve after her brother and sister-in-law passed in a tragic car accident. She has left behind her prestige chef job to take over the local bakery serving as the chef for their new meals. She is struggling to keep things all together with parenting her nieces while also fighting for custody against their grandparents.

Bryce and Ryker find one another in times where neither feels like a great package to offer to a significant other. They each realize how amazing the other is, and want to be there for one another through their ups, downs, challenges and daily life. The way each really saw one another was so beautiful. The struggles each was dealing with were intense, but the love the developed was able to help each other in the most supportive and lovely ways.

The kids in the book seemed so realistic for their ages and the situation they had gone through. My heart was aching for them and Bryce and all they went through. It was an emotional read to see her have to have so many things fall apart. It was also intense to watch Ryker's journey with his PTSD. I was wanting to read faster and faster because the story kept me engrossed to see how each their journey's resolved together.

I have to say, I think this was my favorite of the Matthew siblings! Ryker is just a gem and all around stand up guy. He really is a cinnamon roll for all the women in his life and we stan for a guy like that!!

A fun romance read! The story follows Bryce, a chef who has obtained guardianship of her 3 nieces after her brother and sister-in-law died, and Ryker, a veteran struggling with PTSD and health concerns related to his leg amputation. I think this was the first book I've ever read with an amputee MC, and it was a really interesting factor in the story. Bryce's nieces (teen June, middle child Cecily, and baby Addison) were equal parts adorable, hilarious, and poignant while they processed the grief of losing their parents and accepting Bryce as their guardian. There were limited spicy scenes but when they were there, they were quite good. What I didn't enjoy: the dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic at several points, miscommunication tropes just annoy me in general, and everything wrapped up at the end in kind of a simple way; I would've enjoyed a little bit more mess still lingering. I also realized after I finished that this is the final in a loosely connected trilogy about Ryker and his two brothers, Drake and Zander. I don't think I'll read those and I don't think it's necessary to do so in order to read this book but from what I learned about Drake and Zander in this book, I'm sure their stories are also lovely!

I'm so sad the Matthews brothers series is done and I already can't wait for Dylan Newton's next series (we better be getting one!).

Change of Plans was everything I've come to love about Newton's books. Charming small town, swoony heros and strong female leads.

Bryce is thrown for a loop when her brother and sister-in-law tragically die and leave their three girls in her charge. She picks up her life and is trying to manage all her job at PattyCakes, taking care of the girls and now maybe even a new relationship. Ryker, the middle Matthew brother, is a strong veteran who loves to work on cars and sticks to himself. Meeting Bryce brings him out of his shell and allows him to start to work on himself in a way he hasn't since being hurt in the line of duty.

I really enjoyed this one and thought that Newton handled some delicate situations well. As with the other books in this series this could be read as a stand alone but I think you get more from the story having read the other two first. I cried for the last like 20 minutes I was reading, a sign of a good read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

content warnings: PTSD, death by car accident

“Get you a Matthews brother, They’re the good ones, and worth the effort it takes to unwind the knotted-up layers.”

I want a Matthews brother—I thought I loved Zander in All Fired Up (and I still do), but Ryker Matthews had me swooning all through Change of Plans with his sweetness. Bryce Weatherford’s life has been upended when she’s given guardianship of her three young nieces after her brother’s death, and then she runs into Ryker Matthews, a war vet battling his own past and PTSD. Bryce is amazing; she’s funny and sexy and flirty. She has such a fire to her, and adored her banter with Ryker. Ryker too is so kind—he is just perfect with Bryce’s nieces and the grand gestures. I wish he had done more to communicate his struggles to Bryce, but I loved how Bryce and Ryker felt like such a team. They just immediately fit and are so supportive and understanding in every problem they face. There’s a kindness. And Bryce’s nieces were so lively and unique and sweet. This story is heartwarming and sexy and cute, and I just had so much fun with it. I really adore Dylan Newton’s books and this was just such a lovely addition to the Matthews brother series! I was smiling the whole way through.

4.5/5, rounding up to a 5

Dylan Newton did it again! She managed to almost break my heart while making me laugh out loud. I adored this last installment in the series between sassy Bryce and sweet but wounded Ryker. I loved seeing how the characters from the previous books were doing, and the kids were so adorable and provided perfect comic relief. A great way to end the series!

Thank you @whatjenreads for inviting me to be a part of your traveling ARC team for the next @authordylannewton book, Change of Plans! Thank you also @readforeverpub. I absolutely loved this book, and I am obsessed with Ryker forever and forever, amen. This was such a charming romance, and I loved being back with the Matthews Brothers. Ryker is definitely my favorite brother. The town and family are some of my favorite elements of this series. I loved how real this romance felt, and the disability rep was well written.

I am so sad that this is the last Matthew's brothes and the series is coming to an end with Ryker's story. This was such a heartwarming story about Bryce and her nieces as they learn to become a family unit. The girls added so much to story and it really shows how hard it is to become a guardian. I love seeing the other Matthews brothers playing a big role in this story too. The growth journey for both Bryce and Ryker was so good.

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of this book.

Note: I prefer clean/closed door/sweet romantic comedy and was initially unaware of the content in this story. I do not recommend this book to my followers. Please see the content note below regarding my rating of this book. I found the explicit and open-door content to be unnecessary and distracting but have reviewed the book based on its story merit, not content.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Frazzled, Chef Aunt Raising Three Nieces · Former Marine with PTSD and a Cute. Hero Complex · A Custody Battle · Teenage Attitude and Child Drama · Happily Ever After · A Sweet, Fluffy Dog

This romantic comedy grabbed me in the first couple of chapters and didn’t let go! I loved the tension and drama surrounding Bryce, a chef who’s left her career and life behind to care for her recently orphaned three young nieces. Each child, aged 5, 8 and 12, brings a different flair to the story and it’s easy to see how Bryce is overwhelmed as she helps her nieces navigate their grief while dealing with her own. Bryce’s character is strong, resilient and bright. At times, I thought her attitude was a little harsh, but she’s doing the best she can in a hard situation.

Enter Rhyker, a reclusive former Marine who’s lost his leg, his military career and his ability to stay in large groups of people. He’s the perfect balance of calm, quiet and hero that Bryce and the girls need. I loved his character and his inner arguments and thought processing. He’s sweet and thoughtful, making his attempts and actions swoonworthy.

Their romance is cute, rewarding and smile-worthy. I ADORED the ending of this story and found it to be simply heartwarming and sweet!

Overall, I really wish the book had not contained the explicit scenes and the crude content as it was distracting, unnecessary and gave an otherwise cute story a sense of being trashy.

Content: Rated R. Contains an open door, consensual love scene midbook and detailed, explicit romantic content and states of undress. Also contains swearing (including the F word), foul and crude language and innuendo.

Triggers: PTSD, Amputee/Loss of Leg, Death of a Loved One, Custody Battle

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the author or publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

This book started with an awkward yet also swoon worthy meet-cute, and it only got better from there. The book starts when former Marine Ryker meets chef Bryce in a mini grocery store emergency. Ryker is struggling with his life post Marines and all the demons that come with that. Bryce is struggling to figure out how to be a “mom like creature” after gaining guardianship of her three nieces after her brother and his wife suddenly pass away. Neither one of them are looking for a relationship, yet they can’t seem to stop what is happening between them. This was a great book highlighting struggling mom’s, PTSD, and disability really well, well also keeping things light and enjoyable to read. I enjoyed catching up on the other Matthew’s brothers and all the other supporting characters, but the book also works well as a stand alone for those who haven’t read the first two books. A delightful and fast read. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This was adorable story that tugged at the heart strings. The characters were lovable and relatable. I became so absorbed with the emotions of the characters that struggled with them. I also celebrated with them as well. The story line was well written and developed. I would recommend this book as a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.