April and Mitch are finally here! Jen brought it all with this addition to the series. I loved everything about it. Getting to see a different, softer side of Mitch…swoon. I’m really hoping Lulu gets her own book with this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for a honest review!

I love this series so much! It’s the perfect summer read and just makes you feel like you’re part of this small town. I had high hopes for Mitch and April’s story and it was very cute. I was a little disappointed though. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I felt like their relationship development was rushed and shallow. Don’t get me wrong, they have amazing chemistry and you want them together, but you don’t get to see the smooth transition to love- you’re just kind of told. I still really enjoyed the book though and highly recommend to all the romance lovers.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Opposites attract in the third Ren Faire novel by Jen DeLuca. April is a single mom who's devoted everything to her daughter - who is about to go off to college. She's never been very social and plans on moving out of her small town to be closer to work. Mitch, teacher, coach, and Ren Faire hottie in a kilt is the town playboy. He needs April's help and as these two very different people get to know each other, sparks fly! For fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.

Single mother April Parker is forty years old and ready to start her life again after her daughter graduates from college. She plans to sell her house in Willow Creek and move to the city. The only problem is that no one wants her to leave.

Mitch Malone, known for his good looks and love of having a good time, comes to April asking for her help. He needs her to pose as his girlfriend for a family party. In return, he'll help her fix up her house for sale. The only problem is faking a relationship with Mitch comes way too easily for April. Can she tell what's fake and what's real between them?

Well Matched is the third book in Jen DeLuca's Ren Faire romance series, and I would rank it as my second favorite so far. It features an older woman/younger man pairing, which I don't think we see enough of in the romance world. I appreciated that DeLuca didn't make the issue a big deal (other than April's occasional self-consciousness), and especially that other characters didn't bring it up as a negative. I thought the two had good chemistry, and while I would have liked to see more Ren Faire (my whole reason for getting into this series!), I really enjoyed this book.

I loved this book! So far it has been my favorite in the series.... the pretend relationship trope is one of my favorites to read! April is wrapping up her time in Willow Creek as her daughter prepares to graduate from high school. The plan all along was to move as soon as graduation was over and plant roots in a new town. Mitch Malone has deep roots in the town of Willow Creek and is a beloved gym teacher and coach. When he approaches April to see if she'll pretend to be his girlfriend in order to impress his family, she accepts. On the condition that he helps with her home renovations to prepare her home to sell.
One thing leads to another and before long they're crossing lines between acting and real feelings. There is lots of fun banter, steamy scenes, and real emotions. The Ren Faire wasn't as much of a focal point in this book, the focus was more on April and Mitch and their respective families. Overall a fun story that I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: anxiety, family tensions, abandonment of a child (side character)

I've read the two previous books in the series but I do think this can be read as a standalone

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f fake dating
-opposites attract
-single parent
-age gap
-only one bed
-flirting through home improvement projects

I've been very ready for Mitch and April's romance as it was teased through Well Played. This was a bit quieter than I was expecting but so sweet. I really enjoyed their contrasting personalities. April never really putting down roots, never really trusting anyone after what happened with her ex, only really relying on herself to raise her child, and slowly letting others help her, first her sister, and then Mitch. All of the home improvement projects, as they got to know each other was so fun and such a great way for them to fall in love and I enjoyed every moment.

Sweet, cinnamon roll, kilt wearing Mitch. I loved seeing a different side to him, vulnerable, insecure around his family. And so clearly gone on April, wanting to be there for her, not because she needed him but because he cared for her. This was a slow burn of feelings and was such a soft read.

The end really got me. April and Mitch really opening up to each other. The sexual chemistry was always there, and this is definitely not a slow burn for the on-page sex, but for April it's a slow burn of letting her walls down for someone who had to be protective of her heart that I found really realistic.

I also really want to give a shout out to this entire series for showing different HEA, that there is no formula and every family, every HEA for people looks different. I'm so glad to hear that this isn't the last in the series.

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3

Jen DeLuca has done it again! The Willow Creek gang honestly means so much to me, and I LOVED coming back to this world again! Mitch and April are a couple I have been dying to see finally get together since book one, and their love story did NOT disappoint! Age gaps aren’t my first choice of trope, but Jen might just be changing my mind 🙌
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Mitch is just absolutely wonderful. I have loved him from the minute he stepped onto the page in Well Met, and my love for him grows every time I read more about him. This giant, lovable, sexy teddy bear of a man has so much depth to him, and I just want to give him the biggest hug. And probably a little more 😏 I loved getting to delve deeper into his mind, and his life, and learn how much more to him there is than just a pretty face and a sexy kilt.
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April was the heroine I thought I had the least in common with of the three. She’s a mom, in a much different stage of her life than me, and we definitely have different personalities. But my heart was breaking for her and the way she walked her heart off from the rest of the world to avoid getting hurt. The way she felt so alone and excluded from everyone, even though she was the one who put that distance there, was something I could so strongly relate to.
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Well Matched comes out October 19th, 2021 so go pre-order now! And thank you so much Jen for this early copy! 💙

Note: This is the third book of a series (Well Met #1, Well Played #2).

We're back in Willow Creek, small town home to April Parker and her daughter, Cait. After the events of "Well Met," April has fully physically recovered from a terrible accident, but there's still a lot of healing inside that she doesn't even realize needs to be done. As a single mother whose husband walked out their family nearly two decades ago, April has gotten used to doing things herself and making decisions that are best for her and Cait, and the newest decision is a big one: fix up her house, put it on the market, and move.

When an unexpected family get-together looms on the horizon for the town's hottest kilt-wearing bachelor and Ren Faire volunteer, Mitch, April agrees to help her friend out: play the part of his girlfriend just for the weekend so his family will finally get off has back about settling down and maybe take him a little bit more seriously, for once. In exchange? Mitch will help out with fixing up April's house so she can sell it and move on.

As April spends more time with Mitch she discovers that maybe there's more to this man than meets the eye. Caught between Mitch, Willow Creek, and big life changes (Cait graduating and going to college, friends and family getting married and settling down, potentially moving to a new place), April has some big decisions and big feelings to contend with.

What I Loved:
- Fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!)
- Lighthearted with fun characters that were easy to love and enjoy, with plenty of returning characters but of course a few new ones! It's fun to read about each of their stories with each book in the series.
- The Renaissance Fair aspects are completely my favorite (though of course I wish there had been a bit more attention paid to the fair in this third book).
- The second book of the series (Well Played) fell a little short for me (it didn't quite have as much charm or depth as the first book, Well Met), but I was happy to see that this third book bounced back a bit and did a better job in having the reader connect with the characters. There seemed to be a bit more attention paid to both Mitch and April's stories and it felt like there was more depth this time around.

What I Didn’t Love:
- I was most disappointed (and by disappointed, I mean truly gutted) to discover that Mitch is a CrossFit dude. I think adding workout details in regards to Mitch's character is totally fine and great, but I desperately wish that CrossFit hadn't been the chosen golden child to fit that purpose, especially because I feel like having that CrossFit association colors Mitch's character in a less-than-lovable light (he never comes across as a self-absorbed gym rat, but throwing out the C name like that makes the reader rethink how down to earth Mitch really is).
- It took a much longer time than the first or second book to revisit the Renaissance Fair (it wasn't really reintroduced officially until around 50-60% in). The Renaissance Fair aspect is what makes this rom-com series unique and fun, and with every next book in the series, it becomes less and less an anchor in the storyline. I hope this doesn't become a trend and that the fourth book contains even less.
- This series follows a very clear formula in regards to the plot (but I'm STILL here picking these books up because I do really love and enjoy them!) and one of those aspects is that the characters declare love to one another fairly quickly. But, for the sake of the propose of a fun rom-com that has to be wrapped up in under 350 pages, we just suspend our disbelief and lean into it.
- This one didn’t quite have the same amount of charm as the first one of the series (I don't know that any of them ever will - there's always something extra magical about the first book in a series) but I was also happy to see that it had a bit more depth to it in comparison to the second of the series.

Overall:
I read this one in under 24 hours because it was truly that fun! I realize that no subsequent books in this series will ever be as pleasantly delightful as the first book, Well Met - there was something extra special about that one (perhaps discovering a fun, unique twist to the classic rom-com with the introduction of a Renaissance Fair!). That being said, this third book was an improvement over the second one (Well Played), and I felt like readers were able to return to some characters that meant a lot, that had gotten a lot of page-time in the first two books, and whose stories we were invested in. As always, the Renaissance Fair aspects of these stories are my favorite parts and the most fun; they make this series truly unique and will always leave me ready to pick up the next book. I do wish that the Renaissance Fair had gotten a bit more page-time (and perhaps something new and fun could've been introduced there), but as it stands, it was still enjoyable! The ending gave hints as to who will be the focus of the fourth book (as each of the books in the series tends to do), and I'm curious to see where that story will go (and how the Fair will hopefully be well-incorporated).

(Note: I've rounded my 4.5-star rating up to a 5-star rating due to the nature of the rating system. It wasn't a "super solid, no questions asked 5-star rating" due to the aspects that I didn't love, as mentioned above, but it left me feeling very satisfied and eager to pick up the next book!)

I love Willow Creek and their Renaissance Fair. There is such wonderful world building in this series and it makes me wish it was real. All of the characters are wonderful and I am THRILLED that April and Mitch get their chance at love! This was impossible to put down.

Finally April & Mitch get their story! These two have been favorites of mine since the first book (Well Met) and I was so happy to read that they would be together, in their own story! I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series, and couldn't wait to get into Well Matched! Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

April is a 40 year old single mom. Mitch is a 30 year old gym teacher, a flirt, and apparently Mitch in a kilt is a big draw for the renaissance fair each year. He's faced with attending a family function, and doesn't want to hear about still being single. So, he asks April to go with him and be his fake girlfriend. Several things happen that cause them to have to continue to charade for longer than intended. And things start to feel a little too real.

I absolutely adored Mitch and April's story! These books are easy to read, and so much fun.

Jen Deluca's first two books in the Well Met series got me out of a serious reading slump, and when I heard there was going to be a third book,I was thrilled. I checked weekly, and I can't tell you how excited I was that this ARC finally appeared on NetGalley. Mitch and April are an amazing couple, the plot is so fun, and I loved how Deluca dealt with the children/no children issue. It's getting less rare, but it's still exciting to see characters fall in love and not want children.

Well Matched is the third installment of the Well Met series. This book, dives into a romance between April and Mitch. Mitch needs a “date” to his family get together and asks April to help him. Well things get a little heated. The next few months are spent in a “pretend” relationship on a need-to basis. Mitch’s feelings are sincere. April has to overcome her own insecurities. Can they work it out?

I was hesitant about this book. I love the series, especially the first one, but a romance between April and Mitch kind of made me cringe. I hadn’t seen them ever getting together. The renaissance faire aspect is always fun and reminiscent of my visits to the Texas Renn-fest. This novel doesn’t seem to have as much time at the renn faire.

Overall, an enjoyable series. The age difference makes me a little uncomfortable, but hey, it’s not my life or my romance. I do like the characters; learning more about April and Mitch.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. Could be a possible read for books club. Maybe Lulu’s story next?

That was super cute. Deluca's books are always an easy breath of fresh air. I was so glad for Mitch to be the love interest, since we've been seeing him in the other two novels. I also really loved April's story out of being a woman living for her daughter to someone who lives for herself. I don't know... I guess I am also such a sucker for an older woman and younger man story.

Jen DeLuca mad me want to go to a Renaissance fair when I read Well Met a couple years ago. I felt the magic in that first book and unfortunately I have not felt it in either of her follow up books. Mitch and April were a couple I was so looking forward to, however, we got so little of Mitch that it sort of felt like a let down. The pacing felt like the biggest miss here, the beginning was so slow & then boom they were in love even though they would not admit it. Maybe this is a personal preference, but if I am reading a single parent romance I want the kid to be more involved then Caitlin was here. She was always conveniently doing something off page and therefore there was little to no interaction between her and Mitch. 3.5 rounded up to 4

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

This was definitely my favorite of the series thus far. It was nice having both of the previous couples show up in significant supporting roles in this book, as well as seeing the Renaissance Faire which ties all of the books together. This book contains a particularly good version of the "fake relationship" trope, well fleshed out and with good insight into how it affects both protagonists. Well done!

Very possibly my favorite in the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire series! I LOVED Mitch and April's story SO SO SO much! What begins as a faking dating/friends situation quickly develops into something more. Forty year old, single mom April is getting ready for her daughter Caitlin to go off to college and is planning on leaving Willow Creek behind but as she gets more involved with Mitch and the Faire pulling up her roots and moving gets harder to do. My only criticism for this book was that we didn't get a dual perspective narrative - I would have loved to get inside Mitch's head more. He's a 30 year old gym teacher that everybody likes to dismiss, even his family but April sees him for the big-hearted guy he really is and I adored their steamy chemistry. Main takeaway: a strong independent woman doesn't need a man but it's OKAY to want one, even a younger, hunkier guy who just wants to make her happy. Run to get this one when it comes out in October, especially if you enjoyed the other two books in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced review copy. I dropped everything to binge read this great rom com and I have no regrets!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC!

Though this wasn't my favorite of the series, this was another fun entry into Jen DeLuca's local ren. faire saga.

I liked the beginning of this one, which was a fun take on a fake dating trope. However, the back end of it (once the dating is beginning to be less fake) was a little bit frustrating. I liked Mitch and April and the subplot about April's daughter going to college, but I do think this entry suffered from having the faire less present and from the fake dating being a little too drawn out. I also really wish we'd had some chapters from Mitch's perspective. I wanted to get to know his character better. I mean what we do know about him is great, but I wanted more.

I still enjoyed this book and wonder who the next one will focus on.

I have been waiting since last year for April and Mitch's story, and I'm so thrilled (and not at all surprised) that it's every bit as sweet and funny and heartfelt as I had hoped for! In the first two books, April and Mitch have both been such intriguing side characters with so much blank space to fill in, and I really love the choices this book made in fleshing them out and turning them from comic relief sidekicks into complex romantic leads.

The setup is twofold: April, whose daughter is about to graduate and head off to college, is planning to sell her house in Willow Creek - where she's never felt she quite fits in - and finally move. To get her house ready to put on the market, she enlists Mitch's help, but he needs her help too: to pretend to be his girlfriend for a big family gathering, only for the lie to spin out of control. Fair (heh) warning: we don't spend as much time at the Faire in this one as in past installments, but the scenes we do get are WORTH. IT.

April is such an interesting character to get to know, especially since, we realize, she doesn't really know herself as well as she thinks. Life has forced her to be strong and all-business and self-sufficient, not in a "tough/not-like-other-girls" kind of way, but in that kind of way where you wake up one morning and realize that you've been going it alone so long that it's easier just to keep going that way indefinitely and find reasons to keep it up. Watching her give herself permission to actually *want* is magical. Getting to peel back Mitch's layers is equally satisfying. Don't get me wrong, he's always been delightful as everyone's favorite kilt-wearing himbo: easygoing, good-natured, maybe not a genius. But seeing that persona pulled back and revealing how frustrated he is with being pigeonholed makes him even more attractive and interesting. It's a banter-y, sparkling delight that perfectly continues one of my favorite series.

I wanted April and Mitch's story, but I didn't know I neeeeeded it!

April was relatable to the point that I've had to revaluate my social habits after experiencing her do the same.

Mitch... Miiiiiiiitch... Mitch was a fun side character I didn't get too attached to in the first two books. Now Mitch is close to Simon level sexy for me (which is a very high level of sexy). Thoughts of a Simon/Mitch sandwich (a Simitch) have made their way through my mind and I let them stay as long as they like.

Fake dating, mutual respect and support, sexy banter, kilts, and cupcakes. What else could you want? Maybe a little more ren faire time, but really, overall this book was super fun!!

Just like with Well Met, I'm left with a bubbly, happy, giddy feeling that hasn't gone away for days.

Thank you, Jen DeLuca!

Mitch and April, who bantered in the previous two books, get their own story in Well Matched. When Mitch asks single mother April to be his fake girlfriend at his family's outing, she reluctantly agrees, but only if he helps her get her home ready to sell. What starts out as a fake relationship soon turns into something April is not willing to identify, because her plan for years has been to leave Willow Creek as soon as her daughter Caitlyn graduates. She's never gotten into the spirit of the town and the Renaissance Faire that her sister and daughter love so much.
Can Mitch change her mind about leaving and about love? I loved watching these two hang out and fall in love. It felt very natural and I identified a lot with April and I felt all of her insecurities and inhibitions. And I adored Mitch. This was my favorite of the 'Well Met' series. 5 Stars.