Six Degrees of Separation - July 2023

Six Degrees of Separation is hosted by Kate at booksaremyfavoriteandbest. A book is selected each month as the starting point for us to link to six other books. I go a bit rouge by selecting my own book from the previous months’ Five Star Friday, but still maintain the spirit of the meme.

This Month's Book

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Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
Published by Forever on August 1, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won't bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It's been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he's lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store's baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

Last month, I had four five-star reads, and Change of Plans is one I cannot stop talking about. Both hero and heroine was thrown curve balls and had to embrace big changes in their lives. For the heroine, Bryce, she had to assume responsibility for her three nieces following the death of their parents. 

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1. Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez - Vanessa was dealt a similar fate when her infant niece is left in her care. A big part of this book involves Vanessa's decision to find out if she carries the gene which will result in ALS. 
2. One Month of You by Suzanne Ewart - Jess is faced with a similar decision in this book as she watches her mother deteriorate from another deadly genetic disease.  
3. You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac - This book also features a character named Jess whose mother was dying from a genetic disease, and part of the plot is her deciding to get tested. Quite a coincidence, right? This story was set in France where Jess and her son's father are reunited. 
4. The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins - Ella's story begins in France where she was a successful baker with a large social media presence. 
5. Battle Royal by Lucy Parker - Dominic and Sylvie are also renown bakers who had participated in a reality baking series and are challenged to design the wedding cake for one of the royals. 
6. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber - She may not have been baking for royals, but Anna Kate had to continue the family traditional of preparing their magical pies following her grandmother's death. 

Did you read any of these books?
Let us know in the comments!