Yes Mitch, I will love you forever and ever and ever!

This may be my favorite book in this series. I relate to April on a personal level as she is a single mom. She is a true bad ass and I love her relationship with her daughter, Caitlin. Mitch is hands down the best male from the series (I’m so sorry Simon, I’ve betrayed you).

When Mitch ropes April into fake dating for a family event she realizes there is more to Mitch than his EXTREMELY good looks. Let’s just say that sparks start to fly! They keep up their fake dating for a few other events and they both develop such a sweet bond.

Being back at the Ren Faire just made me so happy! I love reading about the festival and seeing old characters brought back in. Even though this could definitely be read as a stand alone.

This book has mild steam that will leave you wanting more. I live for the spice. I also love the banter between Mitch and April, it’s very flirty and fun. I definitely recommend this to my romcom lovers!

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Well Matched is out 10/19.

I absolutely adored this book! I have read the two preceding books in this romance series and the author always manages to bring new stories and situations to each new book. This is a definite recommend for anyone looking for a warm frothy read while heading into winter.

I was just happy and in a good mood to be back with Jen DeLuca's characters. Well Matched focuses on Mitch, who is every romance readers dream. He's kind, helpful, extremely fit and wears a kilt every day for the Renaissance Faire. He's also the coach and PE teacher at the local high school. April is an introvert and a single mother of high school senior Caitlyn. She has worked and taken care of Caitlyn but never gotten involved in the town other than for book club. When Mitch asks her to pose as his fake girlfriend for a summer family reunion she agrees as long as he helps her in handy work on her house.

I love fake romance tropes and this was easy, breezy. The attraction is there and their coming together feels natural. April's introversion really only hurts herself and is sad. So I was happy to see her make steps to turn it around. And Mitch is wonderful as the reformed player who is ready for a relationship. I like that DeLuca can be steamy without being overly graphic. It is also fun to catch up to the previous two couples from the other books (Well Met, and Well Played) in the series. I'm hoping there is more to come and will look forward to the Ren Faire again. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an

3.5 stars

I was so looking forward to reading Well Matched as I've really enjoyed the first two books in this series. I was so here for reading about Mitch, and let me tell you, he did not disappoint. Mitch was by far the highlight of this book for me.

April is a single mom in Willow Creek and with her daughter ready for college, she's ready to move on. She needs a little help getting her house together to sell and Mitch is there to help her. He just needs a little favor. A date to a family event. What starts as fake dating turns into very real feelings for them both, even though April is hellbent on denying hers.

April is ten years older than Mitch and she won't let him forget it. I love a good age gap, but come on... 30 and 40 isn't so controversial. I felt like it was brought up way too much. I don't mean to harp on April, but she really did drive me bonkers through so much of this book.

Though this was my least favorite of the series, there was still a lot to love about this one, like Mitch. It makes me nostalgic to go to the Ren Faire for a day trip and it was great catching up with so many of my favorite Willow Creek characters!

This was the first book in the series I read, so the backstory of the main characters were very likely fleshed out better in the previous novels than in "Well Matched". With that said, I did feel like I knew who Mitch and April were as people leading up to this novels. I really enjoyed this book - it was a cute rom-com with some larger issues on hand such as social anxiety, single parenthood, age gaps in relationships, and feelings of inadequacy.

The main storyline of the fake dating ploy is pretty well used up and seen dozens and dozens of times in rom-coms. However, I wasn't as annoyed by it as I thought I would be going into it. Perhaps it was because of the April and Mitch had chemistry and seemed like characters that were previously fleshed out - not some strangers and a forced meet-cute.

I loved Mitch. He was my favorite of the two characters. Likely because I understand his feeling of inadequacy when it comes to living up the ideas family members have of you and what you should do (or not do) with your life. He had layers I appreciated - he was a typical jock but was obviously more than just muscle. His refusal to allow players he coached to use offensive slang words, his lack of caring about being younger than April, his understanding and acceptance of how her previous injuries affect her, and his constant - and well-toned shoulder - when April needed support.

I also liked April as a character even though - at times - she confused me with her hot/cold feelings towards Mitch. As the story progressed, it became clear that she wasn't playing games, she just had some bad social anxiety and perceptions of how the town viewed her as a single parent. Her self-esteem issues (failed marriage, injuries from her accident, her age, etc...) were very relatable and it soon had me rooting for her and Mitch like a costumed wench during a chess fight at a Renaissance Faire! And don't get me started on the Renaissance Faire! I could have used sooooo much more of that environment in this book - it was a character in and of itself!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and even loved Willow Creek. Actual rating 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for making that happen.

I was excited to get my hands on this book the second I saw it announced. As a fan of both Well Met and Well Played, I knew I wanted to dive deep into both April and Mitch. April was the wise older sister that Emily leaned on in her book and Mitch has provided a lot of great comic relief, including a not so subtle shove to put Emily and Simon together. In Well Played, both of them demonstrated how far they are willing to go for those they care about. And finally, we got to see their story play out on the page.

And I was enamored from the start. I loved how Mitch was April's foil, finding ways to pull her out of her shell, whereas April provided Mitch with some much needed support. And what started out as something friendly quickly erupted into something that both of them wanted as well as needed.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly, although Emily and Simon will always be held higher in my heart. I hope this isn't the last we see of Willow Creek and the ren faire that brought everyone together.

I just finished Jen DeLuca’s latest book, Well Matched. I really enjoy Jen DeLuca’s writing, her witty dialogue, and how she writes about the real issues her characters face. Plus, Jen can sure write a steamy love scene! However, I also felt there were some issues I couldn’t get over in this novel.

The main character, April, is a single mom to teenager, Caitlin. April has had to rely on herself during most of her life; therefore, she has problems trusting and depending on other people. Her love interest in the story is Mitch, a very sexy high school coach and a devoted Renaissance Fair participant. April and Mitch get to know each other because Mitch needs a fake girlfriend when he goes home to visit his family. The plot moves forward as we watch April and Mitch try to build a real relationship.

I think why I didn’t rate the novel higher is because April’s reluctance to be vulnerable and put herself out there began to wear on my enjoyment of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a proud introvert, but April took this to another level. Her plan all along was to move away from Willow Creek after Caitlin went off to college. She never let herself give the town or the people a chance. She rarely went out, seldom sought out new relationships, never volunteered in Caitlin’s school, or participated in the town’s popular Renaissance Fair until this year. The fact that she lived there 12 years and never put down roots struck me as very sad because it led to her self-imposed lonely life.

Even when things heated up between April and Mitch, she always had reasons/excuses for why she couldn’t fully commit. I wanted to yell at her to take a chance, make a choice, let herself depend on others, etc. I was truly rooting for April and Mitch to find their way to each other but April’s inability to trust and open her heart bogged down the story for me.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn't love this one like I love the others. I think that may come down to most of this book not having much Ren Faire in it. I missed it! And I found April to be a little frustrating. However, Mitch made for a great hero! I really hope we see more in this series!

3.75 Stars

I really enjoyed the set-up and how April and Mitch seemed to keep being drawn together in a very easy and believable way. It was soft and adorable but I could still feel their chemistry.

April’s character made sense, her reservations and loss of self after her accident but mostly her sacrifices to being a single parent. Still, it came up short in areas. The motivation was there but the details were too sparse. What is her actual job?! It’s mentioned that she works and she always planned to move closer to work and it’s a mon-fri/ 9-5 type of deal (I think) but a job title or place was never mentioned and it drove me crazy the entire book. (I read an ARC and if this is rectified in the final edit or I somehow just missed it, please come back and educate me).

So, April can be cute and introverted, and she has this nervous sort of charm, and it’s balanced out with strong loyalty, but there were still things missing from her development. It wasn’t bad, it just left me wanting that littlest bit more.

Mitch was delightful. Wise but boyish and engaging. He was fun. I think he and April paired so well together. Their romance really is fantastic. I craved chapters from his POV though, and I wanted a little more added to his very lightly alluded to insecurities. Something more for April to have aided with and given balance to their respective issues.

The obstacles to their HEA were sincere, but I don’t think l enough time was given to hashing them out at the end. I wanted the convo to have a deeper dive. BUT what I do love, and love about the other books in this series as well, is how it embraces an unconventional unit. It’s never about “I love you, let’s get married and live in a boring house and have lots of babies.” The HEA is whatever these characters deem it to be and that’s always a joy.

Overall, it was delightful and easy to read. I loved the chemistry and time at the Ren Faire, as always. A few hiccups but, in the end, it didn’t slow me down. I really do imagine April and Mitch living life out there somewhere and I love that.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

This boom was hilarious. Hallmark movie in my head at its finest. Comedy? Yes. Romance? Yes. Sexy… oh damn yes. The plot was spectacularly written. Took me out of a reading slump, and truly made me enjoy a good rom com in contemporary. Contemporary is limited for me but when the good ones come I know. ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE COVER?? Like damn mama she a fine one.

Well Matched is the third installment in DeLuca's series of romcoms set in a small town Renaissance Faire.

While this particular book does not take place at the faire, we still follow some beloved characters- kilted resident beefcake, Mitch, and hard working single mom, April.

I loved getting to know these characters more! The older woman romance was a refreshing change - so happy to see April get her happy ending! And, as it turns out, I LOVE the fake dating trope, so it just made the journey all the more enjoyable.

Jen DeLuca is amazing, the nuance in which she writes social anxiety. Mitch is the kindest best himbo and I love how we get to explore the guy beneath the kilt. April is out her doing her best as a single mom, trying to find her place in the town she has always felt separated from. Faking dating to lovers is one of my all time favorite tropes, Mitch and April were a perfect embodiment of a classic trope.

I read Well Met during the Summer of 2019 and LOVED it. I picked it up thinking it was a Shakespeare retelling, aka one of my favorite kinds of retellings, due to the title. “Well met by moonlight, proud Titania” is a line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But it ended up being a small town romance with lot of charm, the enemies to lovers trope, and whole lot of tension. I still think about it!

Then last summer, I was so excited to read Well Played, the second book in the universe, But it just fell flat for me. I missed being in Willow Creek. I was happy to read Stacey’s story since she was a plus sized heroine, but the story took us too far from what I loved about Well Met—that dang Ren Faire!

So I was hesitant to try Well Played, but I loved the character of Mitch Malone so much from Well Met that I decided to give it a try. And was very pleasantly surprised to find my way back to Willow Creek in this one.
What I Liked:

Returning to the Ren Faire—Like I said, I was SO happy to return to the Renaissance Faire. Maybe it’s the actor in me, but seeing April get swept up in the magic of the costumes, accents, and faire grounds just made me so happy.

The Fake Dating Trope—I love the fake dating trope and thought this was a great trope to try in this series, especially since it’s set in a small town! Also…the kilt. Mitch is a blonde Jamie Fraiser and I’m here for it.

The Friendships—Again, another thing that made Well Met so great was the closeness of the community. It was great to see that again!

What Didn’t Work:

The Beginning—The opening couple chapters felt a little clunky, but that was quickly sorted out.

Loose Ends—It felt like we had a couple plot points introduced that weren’t resolved (Caitlin’s dad, mainly) and maybe the plot could have worked without them? I’m not sure.

Content Warnings:

car accident recovery (minor)

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Steam Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

This was a great ending to this series and my favorite of the three novels. I loved both of the main characters. I will recommend this series to library patrons.

I think we can all agree that Mitch has been a standout for this whole series and I’m so happy we got this story.

I’ll admit I feel a little worried that this is the end of this series? I HOPE NOT! We better be getting a Lulu book next!

This is my absolute favorite book of the series! I had an inclination it would be, which almost makes the feat more impressive because of my high expectations. But what's not to love about a reverse age gap pairing between single mom April and kilt-wearing stud Mitch? With a dash of fake dating thrown in? Sign me up!

I was so happy to see my two favorite characters finally get their own story and it didn't disappoint. When Mitch wants to bring a "girlfriend" to a family dinner to get his family to take him more seriously, he recruits April. In exchange, April has Mitch help with work around her house so she can get ready to put it on the market. Her daughter is graduating from high school and she's going to be an empty-nester, and is ready to get the heck outta dodge (aka small towns).

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Well Matched is the third book in Jen DeLuca's Renaissance Romance series, telling the story of Mitch, the kilted strongman, and April, the introverted single mom. Enjoy your favorite tropes of opposites attract, fake dating, and friends to lovers. You'll root for Mitch and April even while April resists and rejects what could be the great love of her life, thinking that she couldn't possibly be right for the outgoing gym teacher and actor.

Short Review: Huzzah! We are back at Willow Creek and it never felt so good!! DeLuca brings back the Renfest fun, all our favorite characters, and some surprise romance too! What can I say? I loved this book with my whole heart.

Long Review: In this book, we follow April as she navigates her daughter Caitlin's graduation, soon to be empty nest, home renovations, and a little fake dating?!

You see, Mitch, our favorite kilt wearing, sword fighting, high school coach needs a date for a family celebration. Just one little date. Someone his family will take seriously so they will get off his case. Someone like his friend....April. She figures what's the big deal? It's only one "fake" date. But you see, it's not that easy. Sparks fly between them and things start to get confusing. Will "fake" feelings lead to the real thing?

I absolutely loved getting to know more of April's backstory and seeing her journey to find her "happily ever after". I identified so much with her as an "older" single Mom just trying to do the right thing. I loved Mitch and April's easy banter and inside jokes. Oh and not to mention the steam.........and cupcakes ;).

Get this one on your must read list.

This was such a fun book. I love all of these! Willow Creek is such a great setting and i love all the characters. As a 40 yr old mom I totally related to April. I really loved her story and her chemistry with Mitch. They are such a great pair. This book had some if my fave tropes- fake dating, sharing of a bed! So fun!

Well Matched has a few elements that really shine, but unfortunately falls a bit flat overall. The story follows single mother April as she grapples with some major changes in her life, as her daughter is about to graduate from high school and she is considering moving so she can “press play” on her life again. Her counterpart, Mitch, is content with his career as a gym teacher and his part in the local renaissance faire, but can’t seem to get his family to respect what he does, so asks April to pretend to be his girlfriend for a family function to get them off his back. Some misunderstandings and some feelings and, of course, some sex follow until the couple truly comes together in the end.

April is an incredibly refreshing romantic lead. She is a single mother over 40 and has anxiety. There are moments of realization and strength she has throughout the book that not only endear the reader to her, but might also make them feel seen, as she learns to see her scars as markers of strength and comes to understand that people she distanced herself from, thinking they were judging her, in fact respect her and and have her back. April makes a lot of unreasonable assumptions throughout the book that may frustrate readers, but that also provide a window into how anxiety can manifest for some people. Overall, the book could have benefited from Mitch’s point of view as well as April’s, but she is a character deserving of her love story.

Returning readers may be disappointed by the book's marked shift in tone compared to what came before. DeLuca’s previous installments in this series, Well Met and Well Played, used the local ren faire as a focal point for all of the action and the faire really became the spirit of the books, but this story deviates from that. It’s use of the fake boyfriend trope also creates significantly less tension, romantic and otherwise, than the previously used enemies to lovers and mistaken identity tropes, which leaves the story plodding along a bit. Fans will be happy to see characters they recognize return, but even there there could have been more.