Change of Plans

Starred review from June 26, 2023
Newton (All Fired Up) skillfully combines pathos and humor in a first-rate small-town romance. After chef Bryce Weatherford’s brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident, she relocates from Florida to Wellsville, N.Y., to take care of her three nieces—12-year-old June, eight-year-old Cecily, and five-year-old Addison—in the midst of a tense and expensive custody battle with her late sister-in-law’s parents. One day, Cecily gets stuck under a grocery store shelving unit, and gorgeous Marine-turned-mechanic Ryker Matthews, who’d been shopping with his own infant niece, Elise, helps extricate her. Bryce soon learns her hot supermarket hero is also her employer’s son, who, after losing part of his leg to an IED in Afghanistan and ending his military career, is trying to settle down in his quaint hometown. Sparks fly between Bryce and Ryker, but to be together, they must navigate roadblocks aplenty—especially Ryker’s insecurities that his perceived shortcomings will be too much for Bryce to accept. Newton handles heavy topics—including PTSD, death, and grief—with grace, and readers will be utterly sucked in by her lovable and believably flawed leads. This deeply felt love story proves irresistible. Agent: Cori Deyoue, Three Seas Literary.

Starred review from July 1, 2023

When her brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident, Tampa chef Bryce Weatherford relocates to a small New York town to care for her three young orphaned nieces. While out grocery shopping, one of the girls innocently mistakes veteran Ryker Matthews, who lost his leg in combat, for a pirate. Bryce promises to make it up to him the only way she knows how--through food. The two strike up a friendship that soon turns into more, but both carry their share of baggage. Bryce is in a custody dispute with her nieces' grandparents, who are contesting her guardianship, while Ryker battles PTSD and ongoing health issues. To overcome these obstacles, they will need each other more than ever, but a secret that Ryker has yet to divulge could put everything at risk. VERDICT Newton (All Fired Up) tackles the subject of amputation with care, yet still manages to infuse the plot with humor via the high jinks of Bryce's nieces. It's mild in the heat department but big on tenderness, and readers looking for depth and substance in their romance will find much to delight in here. Highly recommended.--Kara Kohn

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2023
A small-town chef tries to balance caring for her three nieces with a promising romance. After her brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident, Bryce Weatherford inherits custody of her wild, unpredictable, lovable nieces: Addie, age 5; Cecily, 8; and June, 12. Though she's not exactly prepared to be a parental figure, she's determined to make the best of it--and figure out a way to make ends meet financially for her new wards. A disastrous trip to the grocery store results in her crossing paths with Marine veteran Ryker Matthews, and amid strewn containers of baby food, she might actually be developing a crush at first sight. But Bryce isn't the only one who has a lot on her plate, both in the professional and emotional sense. Ryker, whose left leg was amputated below the knee after his last tour in Afghanistan, is still dealing with PTSD and isn't sure he wants to subject Bryce to his struggles. Nevertheless, they continue to run into each other all over town, and with each new encounter, both sides of this couple start to have an increasingly hard time remembering why they wanted to avoid dating each other to begin with. Pair that with several meddling members of Ryker's family--many of whom readers may recognize from previous books--and the way small-town gossip can spread like wildfire, and you've got a recipe for hilarity and heartwarming moments. While Newton's latest romance isn't lacking in funny scenarios, it's not afraid to delve into some poignant and personal subjects. Grief and learning to move on after loss are significant themes, but these heavier elements are balanced by a heartfelt portrayal of a family unit that only becomes stronger after time and trials. A late-stage miscommunication feels unnecessary to the plot, but the final resolution is satisfying enough to leave a smile on any reader's face. A charming, candid rom-com.

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