Change of Plans

Ryker’s story is my favorite Matthew’s brother book! I’ve been waiting for Ryker’s story and it did not disappoint. I read this book in under a day because I just couldn’t put it down. I wanted to reach through the pages and give him, Bryce and the girls all really big hugs. Bryce is the perfect person for Ryker and him for her. Bryce is the light and connection Ryker was searching for after his injury and Ryker recognized the strength within Bryce even when she thought she was failing. Bryce and her nieces came into Ryker’s life and changed his dull world to full color and gave his RBF a kick to the curb.


Thank you @authordylannewton @readforever and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

this book was found family excellence, I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoyed it. it was heartfelt, frustrating, painful and hilarious. I loved ryker and his journey with his PTSD and self love and bryce and her three nieces were everything to me and seeing ryker bond with them was beautiful. I loved all the ways he showed up and expressed his care and love. this is a must read if you love found family.
Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book!
content warnings: PTSD and grief.

I was eagerly awaiting Ryker’s story because I absolutely loved How Sweet It Is and All Fired Up. I’m disabled as well and love any representation I can get in romance books. I’m also a sucker for a single parent fic! All that to say I could not wait to start this book, and it absolutely delivered.

Bryce is a chef who became sole guardian of her three nieces after the death of her brother and sister in law, and is fighting to prove herself worthy of the job to the girls grandparents. Ryker is a former career marine suffering from ptsd after a losing his leg in an IED explosion. Their chance meeting of chaos in a grocery aisle showed sparks and Bryce working at Ryker’s moms bakery kept these two together in this sweet romance. Unforeseen circumstances left each of them floundering for purpose after losing the profession and dream they had worked for, and this mutual understanding was such a lovely connection.

This book absolutely touched me in a way that no other has. I am recently disabled after going through traumatic cancer therapies, and the combo of c-ptsd, acclimating to a new way of life, and wanting to stay inside my apartment without having to see how happy and successful my friend were hit home so deeply. He also doesn’t think he is “worth” much to a partner because of infertility due to radiation, something I feel daily. Ryker doesn’t want to be a burden to his family, have them drop everything for him. I absolutely love reading romance, and to see the joy, love, and happy ending for someone in a very similar position to mine was incredible. This is also an amazing romance for anyone to read, I love Bryce and Ryker’s chemistry and love languages. This man is the definition of competency kink! I am head over heels for Ryker!

I absolutely adored Bryce’s nieces Addison (5), Cecily (8), June (12). Ryker is so wonderful with the girls, he is a safe calming force for them and seemingly knows what each of them needs. A man that will buy period products without being asked, swoon. Bryce knowing everything about vintage cars was definitely swoon worthy for Ryker. The girls also bring a lightness and joy to Ryker’s life that he didn’t know he wanted or needed. He even prioritized his own mental health after experiencing joy with the girls, and Bryce of course. And although it’s an overwhelming transition, Bryce absolutely loves these girls and embraces all of their grief related quirks and the hilarity that toddlers and tweens bring!

Dylan Newton is absolutely an auto-buy author for me. 5 ⭐️

Content warnings: Bryce has a below the knee prosthetic from an IED explosion during his time in Afghanistan. He details his use of prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy as ways to overcome ptsd. There are mentions of suicide, night terrors, and the grief of the life and career before trauma and disability. Mentions of radiation therapies for Heterotopic Ossification, the pain the bone growths cause, and infertility as a result of the treatment. Bryce deals with the grief of her brother as well as caring for his three children who are also grieving, and have found their ways of acting out because of it. Details of custody battles in the court system between Bryce and the girls grandparents to determine guardianship.

Thank you to Forever publishing and Dylan Newton, Change of Plans is out August first.

Change Of Plans was so touching and cute. Our main characters, Bryce and Ryker, have endured difficult and tragic things in life. Bryce just lost a sibling and is the guardian of her three nieces, while Ryker is a disabled Veteran who is still working through his PTSD. Bryce juggles being a parent figure, work, and a guardianship contestation, and meets Ryker after he steps in and is there to help Bryce with her nieces and becomes a source of support for them.

As they spend time with each other, Ryker finds that he's smiling more and loves spending time with Bryce and the girls for the first time since his accident. I liked how the author wrote grief and caregiving it was well done. There were very serious topics but humorous moments that reduced the heaviness. The characters were excellent. I loved the nieces and the community and grew to love the niece's grandparents. I liked the romance between Ryker and Bryce, it was sweet, with some low-spice moments. They were perfect for each other. I wish we had gotten more communication and conversations between them about their relationship.

I didn't know this was part of a series, and now I have to read the other books. It's a standalone, so nothing was spoiled. Overall this is a heartwarming well written rom-com with great characters and a quick read.

Thank you, Forever Pub, for this arc for an honest review.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton is a heartwarming and emotional tale that follows the life of Bryce, a talented chef, who, upon her brother’s sudden passing, becomes the guardian of her three nieces. After upending her life in Tampa to take care of the girls in Wellsville, New York, Bryce struggles to balance her new responsibilities as a caregiver with her passion for cooking.

Amidst this chaos, Bryce meets a former Marine, Ryker Matthews, the middle brother of the Matthews brothers, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is trying to rebuild his life. Introverted and emotionally closed-off, Ryker comes to Bryce’s rescue as Change of Plans opens, immediately engaging the reader with romantic tension. As they spend more time together, they find solace in each other's company and develop a deep and meaningful connection.

Newton does an excellent job of portraying the characters' emotions and struggles in a realistic and relatable manner. Bryce’s struggles to cope with her new role as a caregiver and her passion for cooking are portrayed with sensitivity and compassion. Similarly, Ryker’s struggles with PTSD and his attempts to find a new purpose in life are depicted with great authenticity. The chemistry between the two is palpable and heartwarming, and the reader can't help but root for them as they navigate their way through their personal challenges. The story's pacing is perfect, with just the right balance of romance and emotional depth.

Overall, Change of Plans is an engaging and emotional read (have a few tissues handy!) that will appeal to anyone who loves a good romance. The characters are well-developed, and the story is both heartwarming and poignant. Newton’s writing style is engaging, and the story flows effortlessly, making it a perfect read for a lazy afternoon or a cozy night in. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming, uplifting romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I have read by the author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Change of Plans follows Bryce, a talented chef, who becomes guardian of her three nieces, upon her brother’s sudden passing. Bryce meets former Marine, Ryker Matthews, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is trying to rebuild his life. Ryker is introverted and emotionally closed off. Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store’s baby aisle and sparks begin to fly.

Change of Plans is a heartwarming story about two people finding themselves again after tragedy. This is a romance book but with many layers to the story. I loved the characters the author developed in Bryce, the girls and Ryker. This book was sweet with plenty of fun banter, a bit of spice but overall a heartwarming story of family, grief, growth and love. This book will definitely tug at your heartstrings.

4/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My review will be posted 4//24//23 to Goodreads, Pinterest, and BookBub. I will post my review to Amazon on publication day.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This post may contain minor spoilers.

This was such a good book, I ran to the bookstore and bought the first two in the series. (It is an interconnected standalone series so you can read them in any order)

This book is the perfect blend of romantic and emotional. Our leading lady Bryce is struggling to take care of her three nieces after her brother and sister-in-law pass away. Meanwhile, Ryker is struggling with PTSD and health issues with his leg following his latest deployment. The two meet in a supermarket and become friends.

Ryker is amazing. He’s the definition of “looks like he could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll.” Yeah he was deployed overseas in the military and knows how to use weapons and whatnot, but he also dresses up in an Easter bunny costume so that Bryce’s nieces aren’t disappointed.

Bryce is so strong and I’m in awe of her character development. She went from a top chef to a guardian overnight and was really struggling in the beginning of the book. With a lot of determination (and a little help from Ryker) she was able to stand up to her niece’s grandparents and prove she deserved custody. Her growth was so natural and perfectly paced.

This is such a great book if you’re looking for romance with a side of found family and healing. I can’t recommend it enough.

Newton does a really great job showcasing grief and the concept of made/found families. She also touches on veteran PTSD, the strain that put on relationships, as well as the person suffering. I thought this was a really beautiful story with lovable characters, good banter, a little spice, and a lot of love. Definitely check it out when it comes out on August 1st of this year!

4.5 Stars

*ARC Review*

I've been a big fan of Dylan Newton's small town romances and this may be my favorite yet! I love the characters, the familial tension/themes, and the sweet sweet love story. The book takes something so devastating in family grief and turns it into a heartwarming tale. I loved all of the characters and the ending.

This is just a great emotional rollercoaster book that makes you feel so good inside. It is like a warm hug.

Definitely recommend for all!

This book graced my tbr pile at exactly the right time! I absolutely love the Matthews brothers and finally getting Ryker's chance at happiness. Ryker is so charmingly awkward that you can't help but love him. Bryce is every parent, mom and mom like creature in the world just trying to get through each day with a minimum of tears and bloodshed. She is doing her best to raise her nieces after the loss of their parents. Tyler working through his PTSD and ultimately getting a service dog to help him made me tear up. This book is heart wrenching in the very best way!

This book was such a heartwarming and fun read! This was my second book by this author, and I enjoyed both so much. This story follows Bryce, a young chef who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of her three young nieces. When her path crosses Ryker, a veteran in their small town, she’s quickly taken by him.

With both of them having complicated pasts, their path to each other is equally complicated and adorable. This was a relatable and uplifting read that I throughly enjoyed. I’m excited to continue reading more from this author!

Thank you to Forever for my free review copy!

What a lovely story for Bryce and Ryker! I love this trio of books about the Matthews' brothers and I wish that there were more of them! I feel like Bryce and Ryker both balanced each other out and supporting each other as they face their own personal issues. Bryce is forced into the role of "Aunt Mom" when her brother and sister-in-law dies suddenly, leaving behind three daughters. This is a challenge for Bryce and would be for anyone thrust into the role after living the single life as a chef. Ryker is working through his PTSD and I loved the way that Newton wrote him and his struggles. I loved the way Ryker was with the girls and I was rooting for them to make it throughout the entire story. I'm a little partial to this series as it is set in my town and the town where I grew up (Rochester!) so I definitely enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what Newton comes up with next. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

After a meet disaster at the grocery store, Ryker and Bryce can feel the connection they share. Too bad Bryce is still figuring out how to transition from single woman to caregiver of three young girls after a car accident claimed her brother and his wife. And Ryker, sticking to a stoic shell since his Marine days, is finally catching feelings for someone since his injury and return home. Through both their trauma, they keep coming back to each other, and as these two know so deeply, the plans you make always seem to change.

This was an absolute treasure of a book!! I was blown away by the emotion and heavy topics that were so well balanced with sweet and funny moments. The opening scene is a comedy of errors that had me laughing and crying in the first two chapters!

Bryce’s nieces steal the show in every scene that they’re in, because they were all so sweet, kind and hilarious. Cici’s habit of saving things from the garbage, Addison’s wings and gentle but fierce nature, and June’s apprehensive affection and pride had me wanting to gather them all up in a big family hug.

I loved the curiosity from the girls about Ryker’s prosthetics, and the connection that they built as he starts falling in love with this new family unit.

I have no experience with PTSD myself, but Ryker’s later realization of how bad things had gotten with isolating himself and shutting everyone out hit me hard. Great example of how you don’t know how low you truly are until you start to improve and look back! 

Also, MENSTRUATION ON THE PAGE!!! It results in a very sweet moment too 💖

This cast of characters, including those from the previous books, was perfection, and this will hit you straight in the heart. You’re going to love Change of Plans!

“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

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.

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.

This book was full of so many great things. This book has well-written characters, humor, a little bit of spice, some great coverage of heavy topics like dealing with PTSD and grief, exploration of family dynamics and of course, love. This book was fun, but also had so much depth. I genuinely really loved seeing Bryce and Ryker as well as the girls June, Addison and Cecily grow throughout this story. I think this is a great portrait of a non-traditional family and highlights how important it is to have people in your corner always. I loved the beautiful community that exists in this book to help Bryce with the daunting task of raising three girls on her own. I loved that this was a romance, but not just that. This was a book about love in all of its forms, like the love of a parent figure for her kids, the love of siblings, the love of community. This book was most of all, full of love. Also this book deserves 4.5/5 stars!!