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Dee Ernst
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A Slight Change of Plan Kindle Edition

by Dee Ernst (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 7,002 ratings

Kate Everett is about to begin her “second act.” She’s been a widow for eight years and thinks it might be time to start looking for someone to share her life with again. She quits her high-pressure job for something that will allow her more leisure time. She gets rid of the huge family home and moves into a fabulous condo that’s smaller and easier to manage. She’s pretty much got the rest of her life figured out. All she has to do is sit back, relax, and let the pieces fall into place.

But her real life never gets the memo. First, her son moves back in with her—along with his girlfriend. Her dream job falls through, leaving her unemployed. Her mother, whom she hadn’t spoken to in years, can no longer live alone and has to move into her basement. And her only daughter is planning the smallest and simplest wedding in the history of all weddings, much to Kate’s dismay.

Kate thinks that she and Jake, her former college love who has reemerged on an online dating site, of all places, can build something real, and that maybe her happy ending is in front of her at last. But the arrival of Edward, her daughter’s future father-in-law, presents Kate with an unexpected choice.

It looks like real happiness may require a slight change of plan.

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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Montlake Romance
  4. Publication date
    November 19, 2013
  5. File size
    519 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“…Organic and universal. [Dee Ernst] has written a funny, smart novel.” ―The Star-Ledger

“Ms. Ernst has created such a splendid story in A Slight Change of Plan. This book took me back to the days of when I use to read Erma Bombeck…Anybody looking for a great fun relaxing book will want to read this…highly recommend…” ―The Jeep Diva (5 stars)

“This is the most ‘hysterically funny romance intertwined with drama that I have ever read. I didn’t expect the ending. The writing style, setting, pace, and different voices portrayed by Ms. Ernst are carefully put together.” ―Coffee Time Romance & More

Review

"... organic and universal. [Dee Ernst] has written a funny, smart novel." —The Star-Ledger

"Ms. Ernst has created such a splendid story in A Slight Change of Plan. This book took me back to the days of when I use to read Erma Bombeck. ... Anybody looking for a great fun relaxing book will want to read this... highly recommend..." —The Jeep Diva, 5 stars

"This is the most 'hysterically funny romance intertwined with drama' that I have ever read. I didn't expect the ending. The writing style, setting, pace, and different voices portrayed by Ms. Ernst are carefully put together." —Trully, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CSA7DI2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Montlake Romance (November 19, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 19, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 519 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1477848223
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 7,002 ratings

About the author

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Dee Ernst

Dee Ernst

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Dee Ernst was born and raised in New Jersey, which explains a great deal about her attitude towards life. She loved reading at a very early age, and by the time she was ten she had decided to become a writer. It took a bit longer than she expected.

She went off to college, moved around a bit, had a job or two, a husband or two, and a daughter or two. It was the birth of her second daughter at the age of forty that got her thinking about what to do with the rest of her life. That was when she decided to give writing a real shot.

Dee loved chick-lit and romantic comedy, but hated the twenty-something heroines who couldn’t figure out how to go and get what they wanted. She began to write about women like herself — older, confident, and with a wealth of life experience to draw upon. She got an agent but no sales, and took the plunge into self-publishing in 2010.

In 2012, Better Off Without Him became an Amazon bestseller. She signed with Montlake Publishing, which went on to re-release Better Off Without Him and launch A Slight Change of Plan in 2013.

2016 will bring two ‘firsts’ for Dee — a series of cozy mystery novellas, and the release of her first full-length novel with Lake Union Publishing, Stealing Jason Wilde, in June.

She is still in New Jersey, where she writes full-time. She lives with husband #2, daughter #2, a few cats and a needy cocker spaniel. She loves sunsets, long walks on the beach, and a really cold martini.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
7,002 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book entertaining and easy to get engrossed in, with believable and interesting characters, particularly appreciating the dialogue between the main character. The story receives positive feedback for being a charming tale about life, with one customer noting its realistic portrayal of modern-day romance. Customers describe it as a fast read that keeps them interested until the end, and while some find it predictable, others appreciate its authenticity in depicting real-life situations.

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356 customers mention "Enjoyment"346 positive10 negative

Customers find the book very entertaining, describing it as a delightful and funny light-hearted read that they loved every moment of.

"What an enjoyable novel. The author did an excellent job with a love story where the main character is over 50 years old...." Read more

"...of Kate's daughter's fiancé, comes of the scene and he's witty and handsome and charming and there's chemistry there too. Who will Kate choose?..." Read more

"...voice, A Slight Change of Plan is a funny, somewhat snarky, and totally down-to-earth story of a woman’s journey into the second..." Read more

"...This is a light, entertaining, mature, life type book. Nothing extremely exciting or thought provoking. No mystery to solve or truly sad events...." Read more

148 customers mention "Readability"143 positive5 negative

Customers find the book easy to get engrossed in and well written, describing it as relatable and smooth to read.

"...Excellent! The reading was smooth, nothing choppy or fragmented and it was a nice approach to dealing with life and real issues after 50...." Read more

"...There is an unhurried feel to this book - almost like a journal or memoir...." Read more

"...This is an easy, non-compelling read...." Read more

"...Nice book to curl up and read in bed at the end of the day. Close to the end I couldn't put it down, needed to know how it ended." Read more

105 customers mention "Character development"95 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them believable, interesting, and emotionally engaging, with one customer noting how the main character's age resonated with them.

"...The way the author scripted the dialogue between the characters was excellent: you could see the eye rolls when someone said something sarcastic,..." Read more

"...What a delightful story, full of wonderful characters, and there wasn’t a boring moment to it. I wanted to enjoy them all for a long time to come...." Read more

"...This is an easy, non-compelling read. It has some stock characters--the long-time girlfriends who try and pull her either to the wild side or..." Read more

"...What got me interested was the fact that the main character is my age and I could kind of relate to her situation...." Read more

99 customers mention "Story quality"90 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story, describing it as a charming and believable tale of modern romance with realistic twists and turns.

"...Her friendship with Cheryl was priceless, her relationship with her adult children was realistic and the re-entry of a lost love was handled..." Read more

"...] is a funny, somewhat snarky, and totally down-to-earth story of a woman’s journey into the second act of her life...." Read more

"...It's also about friendship, perseverence, and adaptability. Written with humor and warmth, this story will appeal to readers of all ages...." Read more

"This book is great for someone who is experiencing dating again and who is reevaluating her life...." Read more

37 customers mention "Pace"27 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pace, describing it as a great fast read, with one customer noting there wasn't a boring moment to it.

"...It unfolds at a gentle, leisurely pace so we meet and get to know Kate's three children and their significant others, the two men who duel for her..." Read more

"...a delightful story, full of wonderful characters, and there wasn’t a boring moment to it. I wanted to enjoy them all for a long time to come. 5 stars." Read more

"...It moves slow but I enjoyed it.. It's a calming book...." Read more

"...This is one of those exceptions and was well worth the effort/breaking my own rules...." Read more

29 customers mention "Authenticity"29 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book, noting its realistic portrayal of real-life situations.

"...This could have been cheesy and trite but it was entertaining, honest and rich with memorable characters...." Read more

"...The book feels quite realistic and real...." Read more

"...This is a light, entertaining, mature, life type book. Nothing extremely exciting or thought provoking. No mystery to solve or truly sad events...." Read more

"...An honest, true-to-life book about a 55 year old widow, her slightly nutty..." Read more

27 customers mention "Interest"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with several mentioning it kept them interested until the end. One customer particularly appreciates the depth of the story, while another enjoys reading about a more mature character.

"...and enjoyed the array of characters and felt they had enough depth to be memorable yet not take over the spotlight...." Read more

"...be doing and you have a great read filled with joy, love and understanding for women like us...." Read more

"...Anyone can write about the real world, but Dee has an amazing ability to draw you in. You want to read more. You want to get to know the characters...." Read more

"...The characters are real and engaging; I found myself really rooting for Kate, and wanting her to have the joy and fulfillment that she was wanting..." Read more

46 customers mention "Predictable story"18 positive28 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story's predictability, with some finding it almost predictable and very surprising, while others appreciate that it deals with real issues.

"this was a good beach read, somewhat predictable but great characters and story line. liked the strong women portrayed and the setting...." Read more

"...fragmented and it was a nice approach to dealing with life and real issues after 50. Sex was handled with humor, honesty and finesse...." Read more

"This is a light, easy read. It is indeed a slight change of plans, but very predictable...." Read more

"...But OMG, I loved A Slight Change of Plan. So authentic. So hysterical. So relatable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Bea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Delightful!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    What an enjoyable novel. The author did an excellent job with a love story where the main character is over 50 years old. This could have been cheesy and trite but it was entertaining, honest and rich with memorable characters. Maybe because I'm 59 this book resonated with me, but the moment I read the line "man plans, God laughs" I knew this was the book for me.

    The main character, Kate, was a real woman dealing with real issues of love & loss, companionship need, elder care and how to plan your new life when your original plans all go to crap. Her friendship with Cheryl was priceless, her relationship with her adult children was realistic and the re-entry of a lost love was handled honestly. The way the author scripted the dialogue between the characters was excellent: you could see the eye rolls when someone said something sarcastic, you could hear the stifled breath when someone wanted to speak but held their tongue; the way one character would change the subject in the middle of a conversation in order to change the direction of the topic......these are all the real things family and friend do when they interact. Excellent!

    The reading was smooth, nothing choppy or fragmented and it was a nice approach to dealing with life and real issues after 50. Sex was handled with humor, honesty and finesse. Friendship, family, lifestyle choices, aging parents, rekindled romance; loss, new beginnings, anxiety, reflection....it's all here.

    Well balanced story, descriptive characters, humor and life lessons. Wonderful and enjoyable book; 5 stars from me.
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  • Alan A. Elsner
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unhurried look at the life of a 50-something woman
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book examines the life of Kate, eight years a widower and newly retired from her career as a lawyer, as she searches for love and meaning in her mid-fifties. It unfolds at a gentle, leisurely pace so we meet and get to know Kate's three children and their significant others, the two men who duel for her affections, her mother, sister, nephews, as well as friends and neighbors -- in short, a cast of dozens.

    There is an unhurried feel to this book - almost like a journal or memoir. The advantage of this approach is that we don't feel that we are being rushed along by the dictates of a plot -- because there isn't much of a plot. The book feels quite realistic and real. The disadvantage is that for pages, and sometimes entire chapters, not much is happening and we are treated to every single development in Kate's life, including bathroom breaks. Every hot flash is recorded, every meal and drink, every phone call, every minor drama.

    Kate decides to try online dating and hooks up with Tom who is nice enough but self-absorbed and a little on the short side. She is then contacted by her college boyfriend who broke her heart by choosing another woman whom he thought would help his career. Jake is now a multimillionaire CEO, divorced from said woman, and nostalgic about Kate. The chemistry is still there.

    But then Edward, the father of Kate's daughter's fiancé, comes of the scene and he's witty and handsome and charming and there's chemistry there too. Who will Kate choose? The main drama of the book, such as it is, revolves around Kate's choice -- the guy that got away thirty years ago or the new guy promising new adventures? Meanwhile, her mother has incipient Alzheimer's, her gay son is becoming a father, her daughter is getting married, her nerdy son has a girlfriend, her best friend's lover's sexual equipment is too small -- and on and on it goes.

    I like the fact that this book unapologetically explores the life of the fifty-something generation and shows that they do have lives -- including sex lives. But honestly this book could have benefited from a more assertive editor who could have trimmed 75 pages of extraneous stuff from it. Three and a half stars, rounded up to four because I'm feeling generous.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Laurel-Rain Snow
    5.0 out of 5 stars ENJOYING HER SECOND ACT
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    When Kate Fremont Everett decides to make some changes in her life, she has been a widow for eight years, her children are mostly grown, and definitely out of the house. Oldest son Jeff lives in the West Village with his partner Gabe; daughter Regan is planning her wedding with Phil; and Sam is a perpetual student on his way to his Ph.D. And finally, after all these years, she has left her law practice, planning to teach a few classes at a nearby college. At fifty-five, she believes there is still time for life changes.

    One of those changes is to sell the big house in suburban New Jersey that no longer feels comfortable. In her weekly telephone conversations with the kids, she fills them in on some of her plans. Like buying that condo in Castle Crossings. So when her house and the condo are in escrow, soon to close, she is stunned when her youngest son, Sam, who has a new girlfriend named Alisa, calls up to ask if the two of them can move into the big old house with her.

    Don’t any of her kids listen to her when she talks?

    Narrated in Kate’s first person voice, A Slight Change of Plan is a funny, somewhat snarky, and totally down-to-earth story of a woman’s journey into the second act of her life. Can online dating work for her? What if she actually reached out to her first love, Jake Windom, who “waved” to her on her online profile? Why do her children suddenly seem needy and full of opinions about her life and its changes? And what about her aging mother, suffering from dementia, who now needs someone to look after her?

    I loved the very real characters, like her old friend Cheryl, who grows pot in her backyard and has some unique ideas about relationships. And then there is a new and fascinating man who will be her daughter’s new father-in-law. As the possibilities begin to present themselves, Kate will begin to realize that making plans is not all it is cracked up to be. What a delightful story, full of wonderful characters, and there wasn’t a boring moment to it. I wanted to enjoy them all for a long time to come. 5 stars.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lina Morales
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read especially for those in their 50's.
    Reviewed in Australia on April 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book and couldn't put it down until I got to the end which I found disappointing. Given the development of the characters, which was very real and totally believable, I felt that her decision was inconsistent so I felt a bit let down. I could relate to the characters and as an over 50 woman myself cringed and laughed with her as well.
    Report
  • Rebecca Roberts
    4.0 out of 5 stars an entertaining read...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Just when you thought your life was settling down nicely and your future was settled...everything turns out differently.
    Not one but two men are now in your life and you need to make a choice. Jake, the first love who left you reeling and who you never quite got over. Edward, a charming and fun new man who has endless possibilities... Who will Kate choose?
    All this is interspersed with everyday family life and a family who had left home and we're now returning to take up residence!
    A good, easy read and some fun moments. Not an exciting story, more of a pleasant experience but certainly well written.
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  • NicShef❤️Reading
    5.0 out of 5 stars Will appeal to people of all ages.....
    Reviewed in Australia on April 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I almost always enjoy a book that has a Baby Boomer as the main character, and A SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLAN does this so well. Dee Ernst tackles the difficulties of caring for aging parents, challenges of young adult children, and unexpected consequences of entering the world of dating.
    This book examines the life of Kate, 8 years a widower and newly retired from her career as a lawyer, as she searches for love and meaning in her mid-fifties. It unfolds at a gentle, leisurely pace so we meet and get to know Kate's three children and their significant others, the two men who duel for her affections, her mother, sister, nephews, as well as friends and neighbours - in short, a cast of dozens.
    Author Dee Ernst kept me wondering what was going to happen next. When Kate moves into her condo, her new digs seem perfect for one person, until ….
    And the new job she has accepted seems just right for this stage of her life, until …
    Then when she reconnects with an old love on a dating website, things seem to be going well, until….
    I won’t spoil the surprises by revealing what happens, but I will say that the character handles all the unexpected changes in her life with love, humour, and the help of dear friends.
    This book doesn't just address the challenges of growing older. It's also about friendship, perseverance, and adaptability. Written with humour and warmth, this story will appeal to readers of all ages.
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  • Connie McKay
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most amazing books I have ever read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I dont want to give the storyline away but it was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. If a book doesn't "grab" me in the first chapter, I'm ready to delete it off my kindle but this had me loving the main character within minutes! I'm in the 50 something age group and wanted a book where I could engage with the characters, a storyline where the main characters are in my age group going through the same sort of stuff I experience at this stage of my life. It was funny and yet thought provoking. I have come to love this author and read through this book in a few days, already onto another book by this author. I would highly recommend this book, you will NOT be disappointed.
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  • eme
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Light Read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A light read, but I really enjoyed the story, predictable at times, but still entertaining. Good summer fun reading book
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