By: Dylan Newton
(Book #3 in the Matthews Brothers series)
Expected publication: August 1, 2023
Bryce Weatherford is in a fight she never saw coming. After the tragic loss of her brother and his wife, Bryce is granted custody of her three nieces. However, their mother’s parents are determined to prove to the courts and the world that Bryce is unfit to care for three children, much less herself. Ryker Matthews is still dealing with the emotional and physical trauma that ended his military career. Determined to stay out of everyone’s way, and not be a bother he hides the seriousness of his health from his family. Yet a chance encounter in a grocery store brings him face-to-face with a feisty family of survivors. Whether it is the universe or his mother, plotting things, somehow Ryker and Bryce keep finding each other, during their most desperate times. Will these two be able to accept their new realities or will the plans of lost dreams be too much for them?
Dylan Newton does a fantastic job at writing relatable characters. Readers will love these characters and root for each of them, as though they were cheering on their friends. The author touches on subjects of grief, PTSD, service dogs for Vets, custody battles, and other difficult realities of life. While each of these topics can be intense and overwhelming, the author keeps things balanced with the antics of three girls and small-town gossip. It highlights the importance of never giving up, and always finding laughter through the chaos.
I have to say, I read this book at the perfect time for me. I was feeling blue from still being sick and not getting any progress. This book made me smile, and chuckle. (Little Addison was a hoot!) This was the first book in over a year that I finished it on the same day that I started reading it. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series, though I did not feel like I missed anything by starting with the third book. I loved how it touched on rescued animals that are trained to help our veterans. This was the perfect pick-me-up read!
Notes:
I signed up to honestly review an advanced e-copy, through Netgalley and the publisher Forever.
To learn more about this book, click here.