Something New

The Bridesmaids Project #3

by Megan Ryder

Three Bridesmaids. Three lost loves. One matchmaking bride. With just a week before the wedding, can a bride-to-be reunite her bridesmaids with the ones who got away?

When Anna Maria Costado is caught having a meltdown on live television, her contract as a nighttime tv star is in danger of being cancelled. Taking a much needed break, she returns home to Texas for a friend's wedding and is faced with the man she left behind, the only man she ever loved, Wyatt Turner.

After a knee injury sidelined his professional football career, Wyatt Turner returned to his alma mater as a football coach. Trying to rebuild a new life, Wyatt buries himself in coaching. Just when he thinks he has moved on from the past, a friend's wedding reunites him with the woman he once loved and lost, along with his dreams.

Can Anna and Wyatt overcome the circumstances of their past and reclaim the future they were always destined to have?

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Amazon, Sports Romance, Adult

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2017

About the author

Ever since Megan Ryder discovered Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught while sneaking around the “forbidden” romance section of the library one day after school, she has been voraciously devouring romance novels of all types. Now a romance author in her own right, Megan pens sexy contemporary novels all about family and hot lovin’ with the boy next door. She’s also a master procrastinator–with knitting and yarn shopping as her primary form of procraftination!

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

When friends reconnect after a five year gap to participate in the wedding of one couple, the bride-to-be is also acting as matchmaker for her friends, providing them with opportunities for a second-chance at romance with their ex-partners. The focus of this story is on Anna and Wyatt. They were together until their dreams drove them apart - she to become an actress and he hoping to become an NFL quarterback. Anna achieved her dream but now things are going sour for her, with negative publicity and total lack of privacy. He had to change his dream after a serious knee injury foiled his chance to make it to the NFL. With support from other friends he has changed his dreams and is now coaching others chasing his old dream.

This is a story of looking behind the surface glitz and glamour to discover reality, accepting sometimes really do work out for the best but only if you make the most of your opportunities and keep your feet on solid ground. Both main characters had some learning to do, including learning to accept the past, to trust each other again and to work together for their future happiness. There is plenty of push/pull to/fro action in this romance as the couple journey on their bumpy road to their potential HEA - an enjoyable read with plenty of regrets for past mistakes and misunderstandings en route.

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Ryder keeps get better. The Lone Star Match series is a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. What begins with promise leads to disappointment. In life there are two major roads. The one we seek to carve out for ourselves and the path that leads to easy street. Smooth sailing is what we all crave but hard work turns out to be the most rewarding. That is the message that Something New sets out to deliver. Wyatt and Anna are rebuilding their lives and all roads point to home. Can they forgive the past and look toward a brighter future together? With common sense and an open heart, the possibilities are endless.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's still a nice book, but I think you would be better off reading the entire series. Fill in some of the blanks. I'm a sucker for second chance romances. It was a nice book.

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something New is the third book in the Lone Star Match series and it was another great read. I’ll be honest and say it’s my least favourite in the series, but it was still an enjoyable read. It was a great way to bring everything together, allowing us to see how everything came together, providing us with a solid ending to the series.

Whilst each of the books in the series work as a standalone novel, you do get the best experience if you read the books in order. Each book helps to fill in the blanks from the prior books, allowing you to see what was happening for the other characters. It’s a great way to enjoy the same timeframe with the same group of characters, allowing you insights into different events. This does mean you do see some of the big events appearing in all of the books, but it is great to see how the smaller elements come into play.

Truthfully, Something Borrowed was my favourite book in the series, meaning I was expecting big things from Something New. Yes, it was a fun read, but it didn’t quite hit me in the way the prior book did. The main characters in this book are quite different from those in the prior book, and I connected more with the characters in the prior book. That is not to say I did not connect with the characters in this book, I simply didn’t connect to the same degree.

Each book in this series gives us a very different kind of love story. There is drama to be found in each relationship, but the specifics are quite different. Depending upon what kind of love story is your favourite, you will enjoy one of these books more, and yet reading the entire series gives you an insight into how Megan Ryder is capable of writing so many different kinds of story. Similar to Something Old, Something New is the tale of a rekindled love – yet this rekindling plays out massively different to that of the first book.

Whilst this is a wonderful love story, this book is also a wonderful tale of friendship. This story in particular gives you a great insight into the group of friends, allowing you to enjoy the friendship we have seen throughout the series. There are also deeper elements in the story, more personal elements, allowing for a story that is a great read throughout.

Overall, this was a wonderful story. It was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to see what Megan Ryder brings us next.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 33%

Anna Maria Costado is an actress, she is filmed screaming at a waitress and her career is about to implode. She returns to her home town in Texas, five years after she left, for a friend’s wedding and runs slap-bang into Wyatt Turner, the man she loved, a former footballer until an injury destroyed his career just as it started.

I lurve second-chance romances, sports-romances and wedding-based romances but this book left me cold. I think Megan Ryder was too busy trying to find a good reason why Anna and Wyatt did and said the things they did (eg Anna was screaming at the waitress because she has a deadly nut allergy and the food contained nuts) to actually make Anna and Wyatt likeable. Basically, in all their interactions with each other, and Anna's interactions with others, they were narcissistic, jumped to conclusions, didn't trust and made everything all about them.

I promised that I would read another two chapters before I bailed but in the end I could only manage one, it just carried on, Anna being bitchy to someone (for her own special reasons) and then Wyatt deciding he was the arbiter of what is and isn't acceptable for Anna to do and say. Then they bring it all back to their break-up and a big case of "No, I didn't - but you did!" backwards and forwards between them.

I disliked both characters and just didn't want to read anymore!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something New is the newest and final book in the Lone Star Match series by Megan Ryder. All of the stories take place on Whidbey Island off Galveston, TX., the week before a wedding. Caroline, the bride and Matt, the groom, gather their estranged friends together for a hopeful time of reconciliation and love.
This is the story of Anna Costado and Wyatt Turner whose romance went up in flames. Wyatt and Anna are both filled with trepidation about seeing each other knowing their history and how it all ended. The question is whether Caroline and Matt can finally help these two see how perfect they really are for each other.
(cute side note: Costado in Spanish means cost or price which is what Anna feels she is paying for her choices)

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on iBooks today (4/18/2019)! 🎁

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Costado is going through a horrible time when it comes to her career as an actress after going off at a waitress and some footage of the incident ends up on TV. So, spending a week in Texas in the lead up to a friends wedding is just what she needs to get away from all the negativity. However, spending time with her ex and the love of her life, Wyatt Turner, isn't easy. Will they be able to overcome the past, so they can have a second shot at love; or will they lose their chance at happy ever after?

The first two books of this series were wonderful reads, but -- I believe -- this story is the best of this series, and it's a book that was spellbinding, fast-paced and one I could not put down due to the fantastic main characters that have tough obstacles to overcome, if they're to achieve their happy ever after; and compelling dialogue that had me wondering if Wyatt would ever get through to Anna. The way this story started had me sympathizing with the heroine, as she's going through a tough time. Is her career over or will she be able to salvage it? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine came face-to-face for the first time in this story that had me reading quickly, determined to discover whether Wyatt would be able to win Anna back.

Both the main characters were beguiling and I loved their history, their back stories and their growing relationship. Anna comes off as such a cold-hearted -- word that rhymes with -- witch, but that's only because she needs to in an effort to protect herself. Trusting people doesn't come easy to Anna, especially because of her career, and I could understand why she's hesitant to let Wyatt in, as they've already hurt each other so much in the past. However, Anna is resilient, courageous and I liked how determined she was to pick up the pieces of her life, even if it means walking away from everything she's worked so hard for. I also liked how kind and caring Anna can be, which is proven by all she does for fans and those she owes to helping her become the success that she is.

While the hero, he's been through a lot with what happened to him, which caused him to lose his chance at having a successful gridiron career. However, in saying that, he's come a long way with what he's achieved with being able to remain a part of the game he loves. Furthermore, the hero is fierce and I liked how determined he was to make Anna see that they're meant to reclaim the future they were destined to have. I also liked how determined Wyatt was to discover what's going on with Anna when it comes to her aloofness. Will he be able to help Anna?

Overall, Ms. Ryder has delivered a very captivating read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is intense and burns bright; the romance was hot and showed how special Anna is to Wyatt; and the ending had me absolutely delighted by what Anna does to win Wyatt back after everything went awry between this couple. Certainly, Anna is determined to go big, because Wyatt means more to her than anything else in her life. Then again, Wyatt is determined to go just as big with his words and his way of making certain Anna knows how important she is to him. No way is he letting her go this time. I would recommend Something New by Megan Ryder, if you enjoy second chance romances or books by authors Eve Gaddy, Barbara Ankrum, Katherine Garbera and Sinclair Jayne. I would also recommend reading the other books of this series to see how good the bonds of friendship can be and how a matchmaking bride-to-be gets her wish in reuniting her bridesmaids with the men they were always meant for.

[Riet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! In the beginning I wondered a bit about Anna, because frankly I don’t like tv at all, but soon I forgot about that. It was so well written, all about ambitions and dreams, and do your ambitions make you happy or make your life content. Both Anna and Wyatt had to learn about their dreams and ambitions and had to make their own decisions. I loved the character development in this book, it was really perfect.
Three Bridesmaids. Three lost loves. One matchmaking bride. With just a week before the wedding, can a bride-to-be reunite her bridesmaids with the ones who got away?
When Anna Maria Costado is caught having a meltdown on live television, her contract as a nighttime tv star is in danger of being cancelled. Taking a much-needed break, she returns home to Texas for her friend's wedding and is faced with the man she left behind, the only man she ever loved, Wyatt Turner.
After a knee injury sidelined his professional football career, Wyatt Turner returned to his alma mater as a football coach. Trying to rebuild a new life, Wyatt buries himself in coaching. Just when he thinks he has moved on from the past, a friend's wedding reunites him with the woman he once loved and lost, along with his dreams.
Can Anna and Wyatt overcome the circumstances of their past and reclaim the future they were always destined to have

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent installment of the Lone Star Match series! I was really intrigued by the premise of this series in the beginning, but I'll admit I was a little unsure how it would actually play out since the three stories take place during the same period. Ms. Ryder did a great job of keeping each story fresh with unique scenes with each couple. While this book can stand alone, I would recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.

Like book 1, this was a second chance romance (my trope of choice!). Even after so much time has passed, Wyatt and Anna still know each other and recognize what is going on beyond the surface, which I think makes the romance that much better. They are both strong characters who have been through a lot and are very dynamic with lots of layers. I liked how we somewhat gradually learned more about what tore them apart several years earlier, and it was interesting to learn each character's views.

I really adored this series and am sad to see it come to an end! I am holding out hope that the author may do a novella or something so we can catch up with each couple a little bit down the road! 5 stars for the series as a whole!

*I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc provided on behalf of The Wandering Bookaholic in exchange of an honest review

I love a second chance romance and cannot get enough of the lone star series by Megan Ryder.
Something new is the third book in the series and it's just as addictive as the first 2. A lot of the characters remain the same throughout the series which focuses around the wedding of Caroline, who uses her wedding to reunite her old friends and match make. Something new focuses on Anna and Wyatt whose past is full of broken promises and bad decisions. Their story was heartfelt and emotional, I loved reading about them and their story had a real element to it which was quite touching.
I also loved the fact that all 3 books in the series are essentially based over the same time frame yet each story is unique and it never gets boring. I'm sad that the series has ended but have really enjoyed the characters, their relationships and friendships throughout the series.

[A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was my first by Megan Ryder, I followed the plot but felt a bit out of sync with the other characters in this book; possibly because this is book three of a series.

I found myself frustrated with Anna and Wyatt and their too-ing and fro-ing; second chances are great but these two pushed my boundaries of patience. I did understood and empathise with their personal situations over the last five years but .. ugh, get over yourselves.

I struggled somewhat to keep up with the other couples that the bride and groom, Caroline and Matthew, had brought together for their wedding in a bid to matchmake/rekindle their friends, bridesmaids and groomsmen. There are some stories I obviously needed to be invested in to understand their dynamics. That being said; I am sure that those who have read the previous books in this series, will enjoy the anguish surrounding these couples.

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same wedding, but a new couple's story. Once again the group of friends come together to celebrate a marriage, unfortunately Anna and Wyatt come to the gathering with a past that is filled with broken promises and poor decisions. But one thing was clear from the beginning, these two never stopped loving each other. I truly loved the way the author gave the reader a new version of an old story. To be able to read about a second chance given to all of the couples never gets old. This was my favorite installment by far. Another great read that I highly recommend.

[Mellissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something New by Megan Ryder was an interesting read. Overall I loved the story, but it was a slow starter for me. I took a few chapters of set-up to grab me. Not a deal breaker. I've read plenty of books written in this style. Anna was a little bit too sassy for me, and I wanted to shake her most of the time. I loved Wyatt, but I'm not entirely sure why he stuck around for so long. The backstory was explained by the characters, instead of being memories, or showing the reader. Showing the reader would have gone a long way to help be more forgiving of Anna's attitude.

All in all it was a good read, and the mixture of friend/lover relationship drama kept things interesting.

[J. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome story by Megan Ryder. Ms. Ryder's books are so much more than a simple romance for they encompass what it really takes to make a relationship work. I loved Wyatt and Anna's story about a love that stood the test of time even through distance, "betrayal", and both characters conviction that it wasn't meant to be. I also really liked the connection the group of friends had and how it makes them all stronger in the end. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Joan]

dnf @ 22%

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wyatt needs to work on his come-ons they're kinda embarrassing, “that’s all right. I’m hard enough for both of us.” He waggled his eyebrows and she groaned." I loved it when Wyatt was all sweet, "he crept up the bed, and straddled her on his hands and knees, kissing her gently. “I’ll see you this afternoon? Maybe a walk on the beach before it all goes crazy?” I liked this book, I loved Wyatt, Anna I just couldn't stand her at times, and honestly I'm not sure why.

[Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright so this is a hard one for me to write. I have actually been sitting on this review for day's, and day's, and day's. Trying to figure out how I was going to write this review. What words and feelings I was going to put into this review. If I could actually use nice words for my review. Trying to figure out how I was actually going to rate this review. But my time is running out and I need to get this review up. So with that being said on we going with my review......

I have to admit I wasn't sure if I was going to read this book at all in the first place. After finishing Brigid and Grady's book, I really didn't want to read Anna's book. But I wanted to see how the series would end and if I could warm up to Anna at all.

Let's start with Anna. I honestly haven't liked Anna at all in this series, not in the least. And I'm sorry to say that I didn't warm up to her in this book at all. If anything this book made me dislike her character even more. Anna has to be the most self centered, egotistical, narcissistic character I have EVER meet in a book and yes I realize all three words basically the same thing. So if you just want to pick one to call her be my guest. Anna never wanted to take the blame for anything, she wanted to blame everything on everyone else. Especially her old friend Delaney. When she basically did the same thing that Delaney did and ran. The only difference is Delaney admitted she had done wrong and apologized. Anna just went right on blaming everybody else for everything. And even though Anna tried to change at the end it was just too little too late for me and I couldn't even warm up to her.

Oh Wyatt... What can I say about Wyatt?..... I liked Wyatt, I really did. And I think he's the only thing that saved this book. He has definitely figured out how he is supposed to move on from his career dreams after his career ending injury. And has figured out how to make something else out of himself. I just didn't get why he let Anna kind of run all over him.

I also have to say I never really felt a connection between the two of them, even though they evidently had an epic romance between them beforehand. I thought that they actually had a better friendship than they did a relationship. The book was alright to me, as I mentioned I've never really liked Anna and didn't warm up to her at all in this book. But as always it was nice to see the other's in this book, though we didn't see much of them as we did in the other two books.

I'm giving this book 3.5 to 4 Stars out of 5 and have to say I think Delaney's book was my favorite out of this series!!!!!

***I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy for my honest opinion***

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

In the earlier books in this series Anna was always the secondary character that I had the hardest time finding something to like about her. To be blunt… she’s not a nice person, at all. As an actress she’s fought hard to get to this point in her career. Yet when she blew up at a waitress, admittedly for a good reason, the negative publicity that resulted from the incident going viral has put her career in serious danger. While the chance to escape the spotlight for a week or so may seem ideal… it also will bring unpleasant memories as friends are gathering for a wedding and the bride is doing her best to reunite old couples once again. The last thing Ana needed was to run into Wyatt. But they’re both stuck here for a week and tempers are going to flare.

Wyatt and Anna are a volatile couple. They each had dreams back in college, and each achieved success in varying degrees. They left each other behind on their path to success, between misunderstandings, regrets, and anger they have a lot to work through to have any hope of a happy ending.

I enjoyed Something New, it’s not my favorite of the series, but it does shed light on why Anna acted as she did in the earlier stories. They have a chance at happiness together, but they also need to get past, forgive and deal with a lot as well. Frankly, at times they were a frustrating couple yet many people are like that in real life as well. I would recommend this story and this series to any Romance reader who enjoys digging a bit deeper into the psyche of why people act as they do, enjoys a lot of crossover second chance couples as secondary characters. and believes that happiness is a choice… one that we have to decide to grab or not.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Ryder has given us a group of friends with such diversity that everyone will identify with at least one character. They are reconnecting after a 5 year absence & the interactions are perfectly balanced with emotions. This was a wonderful series with all three books taking place at the same time. Each can be read as a stand alone but by reading the series, you get a better understanding of the characters & the twists life has thrown at them.

Anna & Wyatt were a serious couple. She was going to be an actress. He was going to become an NFL quarterback. They would make a long distance relationship work. Until Wyatt got hurt & saw his NFL dreams crushed. Until he got jealous that her dream was still in reach when he'd lost his. Until she refused to come home & nurse him. Now, Anna is a diva, a star whose outrageous behavior has affected her career. Wyatt is a college football coach that has never forgiven her. Thrown together in a wedding, can they make peace & move on?

Anna & Wyatt's story is very realistic. Anna wanted to be a star but hates the press coverage & lack of privacy that comes with it. She loves it at first but it's gotten old. She uses it as an excuse to withdraw from her family & friends rather than admit she isn't happy. Wyatt begins to realize that his life now is more satisfying & happy than he probably would have been as an NFL player dealing with the press, etc. Wyatt's character also had to "swallow a bitter pill" & realize part of his anger against Anna was because her dream was still alive & reachable while what he thought was his dream was dead. Both characters had to learn honesty & to rely on each other & their friends. It was fascinating to watch the journey & the growth they went through. I'm sad to see the end of this series.

[Miriam Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I was not sure how I would like to read this third book as the three books all are set during the week before Matthew and Caroline's wedding, but even though some content is similar, it is a completely different story focusing on the last couple. It really is fun to read about the group events from each person's point of view! What sounded bitchy from one book, you understand the emotions behind the remark when you read the book from another's perspective.

Anna and Wyatt really had unresolved issues, and each blamed the other. As usually, they both needed to share the blame! It was kind of funny that Wyatt had such bitterness towards Anna when he told her to leave then was upset that she did!

Anna really left everyone behind - similar to Delaney but for different reasons, yet she really did not see it that way and how it hurt her friends and her family. She had huge trust issues after witnessing a betrayal, and sometimes I wanted to smack her and shout that if she really doesn't like all the constant press, then find a different job that she likes!

Wyatt, I felt, was kind of back and forth for a bit and I loved that when he saw how Anna was adversely portrayed in the press, he realized that if he had become an NFL star, that would have been his life, also.

It was fun to watch Anna and Wyatt as they both worked through their emotions, what they wanted in a relationship, and future careers. I loved that Anna didn't stay behind because she had no other option, she had great opportunities and yet she chose a path that was the best for her, her career, and her love for Wyatt.

The epilogue for this last book was great as you get to see all four couples finally together and wrap up Caroline's matchmaking!

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that begins with a friend trying to persuade her friend from college to come back to Texas for her wedding. It would also mean that Anna Maria Costado who is now a television star and is in a free fall career wise. She could get out of town and out of sight of photographers which is only one of her problems. Going back to Texas means she also has to see Wyatt Turner who she thought she would have a future with but instead after his second knee injury became a jerk and told everyone to leave and now blames everyone because they did. Wyatt is now a coach at the University where they went but still has feelings for Anna. He believes that by going to this wedding he can finally move past the hurt. Once all of the people are on the island and he begins to see Anna as much as he wants to continue to be mad he also wants to move on because he knows that there is something else going on with her that is making her on edge. Wyatt though must also come to terms with the idea that he is done with football, with playing football and once he gives that a full thought he is able to help Anna to see what has gone on with her career. Once the wedding is over Anna is in New York for an audition when she realizes what she really wants. Want she wants is a life and a guy and she goes after both. Read this book and see if she can have both. A good story with good characters. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author therefore I have not read the previous books in this series, I do feel that I missed out on a lot of the connections in this book due to not having read the entire series.
Friends back together after 5 years for a wedding, there was so much going on with each person I'd like to have known more of their history, I felt at times like instead of being immersed in the story that I was like the outsider looking in, not knowing the secrets they referred to etc.
That being said I did love the story, and eventually all of the characters. Anna took some getting used to. She seemed and at times was quite the selfish diva and that drove me nuts, I really didn't connect with her until later in the book. To me she was not what Wyatt needed, it took a good bit for me to accept that she could concern herself with someone other than herself.
Wyatt had a stick up his butt but like most people who aren't obsessed with themselves, he learned to forgive and move on.
The secondary characters were hit or miss for me, again likely because I don't know their history and anything mentioned about them or it left me with questions.
I love a second chance romance and that's what Something New is. Actually it's an attempt at quite a few second chances but I don't know the other characters pasts together just hints at them.
3.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love second chance romances and Megan Ryder did a great job with Anna and Wyatt’s story. This is my favorite in the series, by far. This is the third and final book in the Lone Star Match series and even though this can be read as a stand-alone, I don’t recommend doing so. There is so much that involves the other characters and their stories from the previous two books, I think if you don’t read them all, things can be confusing.

Anna and Wyatt’s story was an emotional rollercoaster throughout the entire book. Just when you think the past hurts were addressed and maybe they could move forward, bam!, something else surfaces or new happens and they are pulled back into their hurt, insecurities, and/or anger. You could tell they loved each other, that they were perfect for each other, but could they work through everything that happened and tore them apart in the first place? Would they be able to find the common ground, the place where both their dreams and hopes for the future could intertwine and become their happily ever after?

I’m sad this is the end of this series. I was getting attached to this great group of friends. I hope there will be something in the future, even a small novella, just to check in with the group and see how life has been treating them.

I voluntarily read and am reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something New by author, Megan Ryder is a story of second chances. This book is part of her Lone Star Match series. I was introduced to Megan's writing through this book. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The story is about two characters who started dating in high school and due to circumstances and life dreams were pulled apart in separate directions. The characters are Anna, who is a Hollywood actress on the show Blazing Passions and Wyatt, a former football star who is now coaching college football at University of Texas. Both Anna and Wyatt were raised in Texas and Anna left to pursue her dreams in Hollywood while Wyatt remained in Texas. They are given a second chance at love when Anna returns to Texas for her best friend's wedding. This story contains lots of emotion and deals with loss and heartbreak. The match making side of the story is so endearing and heart warming. The author's writing is so well done and I loved the way she developed all of the characters in the book not just Anna and Wyatt but the secondary characters as well. The story does contain sexual situations but they play such a crucial part in Anna and Wyatt reconnecting. This is a great book and I would definitely recommend it.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something New is book three of Megan Ryder’s The Lone Star Match Series. The premise of these books is a bride who wants her friends to be just as happy as she is. Hence, she gently plays matchmaker. This time it is Anna Maria Costado and Wyatt Turner’s turn at a second chance romance. They have had professionals that were in the limelight but then life threw them a curve.

While the story gives insight into personal relationships, it is also a book on making oneself over after dreams have been shattered. Wyatt seems the most secure and stable of the two especially since he has had more time to come to terms with the changes that happened in his career. Anna is likable but at times frustrating. Perhaps for her it is a story of becoming a better person.

While this may be able to be read as a stand-alone, the wedding is an important part of the setting so the other characters from the first two books have supporting roles. From that aspect, it would probably enhance the enjoyment of Something New to have read the books in order which is - Something Old (Book 1) and Something Borrowed (Book 2).

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
This story is well written and I liked the outlook on the life of an actress/celebrity, the constant pressure and high levels of stress, the lack of privacy – very well done and convincing. I also liked that the characters grew and changed throughout the story.
I usually enjoy second-chance romance stories, but this one didn’t move me; in the beginning the main characters are very rude to each other and I hated that. The heroine is especially nasty, “tense and angry all the time”; she’s also very selfish and fickle and even the final public redemption scene – beautiful, powerful – was not enough to clean her record. I also felt that the hero was somehow lacking. Sometimes I don’t like the characters but I appreciate and respect them in their fictional setting, but not with these two.
I didn’t care about their friends’ lives and the matchmaking thing. Perhaps I should have read the previous stories in the series. Anyway, this story may work for other readers but the main characters just rubbed me the wrong way.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Tule Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Something New" by Megan Ryder. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I would gladly recommend this book to fans of the contemporary romance genre. I've read all the books in this series and I've been pleased with each one. Sometimes series can become stagnant, but not this one. Ms. Ryder has written each of these books from the perspective of the each of the separate leads following the story line introduced in the first book. She did a great job weaving the character's back stories that are "teased" in the other books and then brought to clarity within the story for that lead.
This book deals with Wyatt and Anna and I wasn't sure if I was going to like their story as much as the others, but I have to say - I found myself engaged in their struggle the most and they soon became my favorite couple of the series.
I'll be curious to see what else this author comes up with for the next series and I will certainly be putting it on my collection as should add this book, this series and this author to yours.
Happy Reading..enjoy!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic end to the series!!

Anna and Wyatt are back on the island for their friends' wedding and hoping to avoid each other as much as possible. That's not possible with a bride like Caroline though!

I'll admit that over the first two books of the series I didn't like Anna much. She seemed mean and overly diva-ish. Ok, she's a Hollywood star but these were her friends way before stardom was even on the horizon. Anna's story really made me understand her, her decisions, her guardedness. I don't feel like I got to know Wyatt much in the first two books but this book taught me everything I needed to know about his supportiveness, friendship, and struggles.

This entire series is about second chances but Anna and Wyatt's was one of the hardest. They both had struggles about their dreams, difficulties trusting, and communicating with each other. Their time on the island showed them how perfect they are for each. While their story can be read as a standalone, I really think that in order to fully appreciate Anna and Wyatt you should read the first two books. I will definitely miss this series but I am looking forward to what comes next from this author!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and the third I have read. I do feel it can be a stand alone though as all 3 take place during the same time with all 3 couples. But Anna was the hardest throughout the other books for me to feel anything towards, and there were times throughout this one I felt the same way.

At least we get more details on really what made her act the way she is during this wedding week, but it was still somewhat hard to justify. But I think Wyatt makes her a better person. He is always trying to calm her or help others around her. Obviously things happened 5 years ago that caused their breakup, but what really happened is seen differently from both of them.

Overall I like the idea and even the side characters so it is a win still for me. Plus we get to see Anna's growth and change which I felt was really needed after reading all the other books. Everyone deserves to be happy.

Megan has done a great job of writing three different stories with the same details in all of them. I didn't feel anything was missing in that regard.