Well Matched was LOVELY! Jen DeLuca is so great at writing a great romance between great characters, and I love Mitch so much. I've been so excited about this book! I always love her Ren Faire setting and the surrounding town. It was fun to say hi to the couples from the previous books, too. I did feel that Well Matched was a little less rom-com and a little more women's fiction, but it didn't bother me. There's still a lot of swoons, but there's also a big focus on April and her personal journey. Her life is shifting, she's a single mom about to become an empty nester, and she's looking ahead at a future she's not sure about. Her daughter's father is trying to reconnect with her daughter, so she's also dealing with that uneasiness as to how to keep her daughter emotionally safe and also let her connect with her parent. As I said before, I love Mitch. I also love fake dating, so this silly little fake girlfriend scheme of Mitch's adds some lightness to the heavier issues underneath it all. I loved seeing Mitch's more sensitive and intuitive side. He's there for April as a friend, helping her when he can, and I loved that serious, protective part of his personality. Up to this point, he'd just been the flirty man in the kilt to me. His family dynamic was also super interesting to read about. All in all, this was very sweet and enjoyable and I can't wait for what Jen DeLuca does next!

Not an April fan. Though, Mitch is super pure and fun. However this one was not as great as the first and I found that the issues April faced were, well she was not very likeable

By the first chapter of this book I was completely hooked and tore through it with abandon, not able to get enough.

I mean who doesn’t love a smokin’ hot ray of sunshine in a kilt?! This story had friends-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity...and so much delicious, swoony tension between the two main characters.

April Parker has been planning to get out of much-too-small Willow Creek for the last twelve years. She was just waiting until her daughter went off to college. But then her casual acquaintance, Mitch Malone, ropes her into being his fake girlfriend for a family event. Never mind they’re just friends, or there is a nine-year age gap between them, the more time they spend together the more they start to catch real feelings for each other.

The tension and build-up between the two was perfect. And I loved that they really cared about each other on a friendship level, and stood up for the other when needed. We also got to see a little more from the Ren Faire towards the end of the book, which was just what I needed.

I gave this one three eggplants out of five on my steam scale—it is open door but also not super graphic. You know it’s going down and it’s super steamy, but you’re not quite getting a full play-by-play. Most of what I’ve read lately has either been completely closed door or you’re hearing exactly what is where and precisely what it’s doing and how—so I thought this was really good balance.

Anyway, I loved this book and it was such a fun, delicious read...I’m off to find more books about strapping lads in kilts now. 😉

I loved this book so much! Give me a sunshine himbo and a grumpy loner heroine ANY DAY.

Ugh I loved Mitch and April and I hope to return to this universe again with another book!

I wish I had known this was the third installment of a series going into this book because I felt like I was missing a ton of context and characterization the whole time. With a lot of romance "series" the books can be read as stand alone novels but that isn't really the case with this one. Not necessarily a negative, just something to be mindful of if you haven't read the first two books.
It was refreshing to read an age-gap romance with an older female lead, I think it gave a lot more emotional depth to the character and relationship.
Im always a sucker for fake-dating but this felt a little tired and overdone. It follows the same formulaic relationship arc we see in most romance novels riddled with miss-communication and a frustrating female lead. I think this book would have benefited from a dual-perspective between both leads so we could have gotten a little more insight on Mitch's character and feelings for April.
Its a good read, but definitely left me wanting more.

I LOVE the Well Met series, so this was right up my alley. This wasn't my favorite of the series - I think the first one remains my favorite! - but I'm such a sucker for these it's hard to find anything to dislike about them. The characters are always immensely likeable, and the Ren Faire setting is an absolute blast.

This is my favorite book in the Renaissance Faire series. Mitch and April were such a good couple. I love that this book features a heroine who is in her 40s ready to start living her next chapter. The forced proximity scenes were everything. I love that April got to experience the Rennaisance fair.

This book was the first of the three Well Met series books I've read, and I enjoyed it enough to want to go back and read the first two. I wish I had read the first two books first because, while it works fine as a standalone, I feel like I would've enjoyed it more as a "part 3" of the series.

I'm always a fan of fake dating/friends to lovers tropes, and this book does both scenarios well. I especially enjoyed Mitch and April's back and forth banter.

A fun read and a definite recommendation if you enjoy fake dating and small-town settings.

Single mother April Parker raised her daughter in Willow Creek, but now that Caitlin is graduating and leaving for college, she plans to sell her house and move to the city. Before she can list it, though, she has a long list of updates and repairs from her real estate agent to deal with.

Mitch Malone, the handsome, gym teacher, is a player known for wearing a revealing kilt at the town’s Renaissance Faire. When he asks April to pose as his girlfriend at an upcoming party for his grandparents’ anniversary, she agrees—as long as he helps her with her home repairs.

As they spend time together, their relationship heats up, especially when Mitch’s family dinner turns into a family weekend, but April reminds herself that she will be moving soon. What started as just an act, though, could turn into more—if April could let go of her plans, but even Mitch might not be enough to keep her in Willow Grove.

I enjoyed WELL MATCHED as much as WELL MET, the first book in the series. Mitch’s cousin, Lulu, was hilarious, and his family was infuriating—thinking he settled when becoming “only” a gym teacher—but they also began to come around. This book had several scenes at the Faire because April, the quintessential non-joiner, volunteered as a ticket-taker to support Caitlin. Seeing the Faire from that front-of-house perspective was different and fun. The couples from Books 1 and 2 made appearances as well.

A good choice for those who like the fake-dating trope or age-gap romances.

Some open-door steam.

If it can be faked, the characters in Ms. DeLuca's new novel, WELL MATCHED, will do it. A macho man, a shy single mom, a renaissance fair, genuine laughs and more round out this hard to resist, perfect escapist faire plot. It stars April Parker, who has a teenage daughter soon to go to college. April still is recovering from her accident and is socially inept, preferring her own company. She plans on redecorating her house, so she can sell it and move out, after her daughter leaves. Although, a sexy gym teacher, Mitch Malone, enters her life. Will he complicate things?

Muscular, macho Mitch is known as a handyman, gym teacher, and Kilt man in the renaissance faire. He's known April for a while and their paths cross. April needs a handyman and Mitch needs a fake girlfriend. They mutually agree to help one another. His family teases him about marrying. He asks April to come with him to his family reunion. April agrees, only the weekend turns into a three day affair! Time spent with Mitch and his family has melted April's heart. Mitch is bewitched by the beautiful babe. Will their fake relationship move into the lovers category and more?

The action is fast, the characters are likable and the one-liners never stop in Ms. DeLuca's new story, WELL MATCHED. A sparkling, sexy story starring two friends who fake it, to make it appear there is something more, when actually there isn't or is there? I loved the bantering stars who are clearly made for each other. No one writes like Ms. DeLuca does with her distinct view of Renaissance faires, skilled dialogue and divine story lines. Sheer reading enjoyment, with its likable cast and powerful message to single moms everywhere. WELL MATCHED is like a delicious candy bar. A story to savor!

I really liked this reverse age gap story, even if I was frustrated at times. For fans of this series you will probably love this book!

This was my favorite of the series. Mitch was a great love interest and I love seeing an older protagonist as well! If this is the last book I’ll miss this Ren Faire. Fairewell my friend!

This might be my favorite of the series! I loved the dynamics of this one. The age difference, Mitch's golden retriever of a personality, April unsure of what she wants our of her next chapter. These are great, quick, fun reads full of heart and a tiny bit of steam!

Fake dating, a man in a kilt, and a kind himbo? Sign me up. I've never really read many age gap romance novels, so I was eager to give this one a shot. I love, love, love the world and characters of the Well Met Ren Faire series books, so getting to return to the faire and see characters from previous books was delightful. I loved the story and that it was a little more somber than the first two - getting to understand April more (after not totally understanding her motivations in the first book) was good - though sometimes she was a little frustrating. She stood in the way of her own happiness to the point that it got a little frustrating at times. Outside of that, I can't wait to return to the faire with the fourth book soon.

Well Matched was a cute read, but sadly I didn't love it. It definitely could be my mood though since I have had several friends love it. This is the 3rd book in the series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

What I enjoyed:
- Mitch was a total sweetheart and he was just so gone for April. His moments of vulnerability were my favorite and I appreciated that he put his foot down about what he was willing to accept (and not) when it came to a relationship with her.
- I loved the message that there are all kinds of happy endings and that it can take many different forms.
- The relationship between Caitlin and April. It was so relatable and for me, it was the heart of the story. April put her own needs on the back burner for so long and it was wonderful to finally see her be open to possibility.
- The tropes! Well Matched had forced proximity, fake dating, only one bed, reverse grumpy + sunshine, age gap, and more!

What didn't quite work:
- It took me a long time to warm up to April. I understand it was part of her character arc and I could relate to her hesitation and fears about opening herself up again, but it was hard to see her be so hot and cold with Mitch.
- The chemistry between Mitch and April. I didn't really feel their connection and so the final declarations were a lot to accept. The intimate moments were very sweet (and sexy), but it didn't make up for fact that April and Mitch didn't really seem to know each other. They didn't communicate well and it all felt emotionally stunted (but maybe that was the point?)
- The pacing of the story felt very slow and things really stalled for me in the middle of the book. It made the book feel overly long and I found myself skimming at times.

CW: strained family relationships (on page), divorce/reappearance of absentee parent, mentions of scarring/insecurity over appearance as well as challenges with physical activities related to automobile accident (past)

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Well Matched by Jen Deluca

Single mother April Parker, has lived in Willow Creek for twelve years with walls around her heart. She's about to be an empty nester soon and she's decided to move from the quaint little town, ask her gorgeous friend to help with home renovation to get the house ready to sell.

Mitch Malone is known for his Saturday prowling at the town bar and his renaissance fair attire: a kilt that make all head turns. When he agrees to renovate April's house, he needs a favour in exchange. A fake date to a family dinner, so he can avoid the lectures about his unsatisfactory life. When dinner becomes a weekends trip, it becomes hard to tell what is real and what is just for show. As the weekend ends, so must their little arrangement.

Even with the obvious chemistry between the two, the connection that keeps them wanting more and feelings that are to real to ignore, April insists they are just friend. She'll have to decide if opening her heart is worth changing her plans for the kilt-wearing hunk who might just be the love of her life.

CW: Family tensions, child abandonment (off-page by a side character)

It seems we have waited an eternity for Mitch's story, and what an incredible hero he was. Their chemistry was palpable and I loved their bond and how the fact that the heroine was older, wasn't a plot point of it's own. I have an eternal crush on April for standing up to Mitch's family. I wish we had more time with April and her daughter. A lot of really important events happened in her life during the book, and I feel that it was brushed off pretty quickly. A little Cait-Mitch bounding would have been so adorable. I loved all the tropes present in this book, they were entertaining, flowed flawlessly together and made for an exciting read! I wish April's character ARC was a little more developed, it felt a little stuck in the "commitment-phobe" phase for the entire plot.

Thank you to @berkleyromance for gifting me a free digital advanced reader's copy via @netgalley . As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I've been really enjoying Jen DeLuca's Well Met series. They are snappy, romantic, and they promise a good time. Well Matched is probably the one I was most eagerly anticipating in the series since we've been acquainted with April since the first book.

This book felt different from the other two books but not in a bad way. It focuses a lot more on April and her journey which I personally liked. April is going through some major life changes here. She's focused most of her adult life raising her daughter, Caitlin, and Caitlin is about to leave the nest for college. In the middle of all this, Caitlin's absentee father decides he wants to reconnect with her, so April is dealing with some resentment. She gets some respite in the form of adorably sappy, Mitch, who is in need of a fake girlfriend. This is a romance novel, so we all know how this fake relationship will go. ;)

April was the star of Well Matched for me. I felt her every feeling so deeply even though I'm not personally a single mom. I had mad respect for her and for all that she had sacrificed. Of course, she's in a vulnerable state especially when it comes to the love department but Mitch is there to show her that love can be in the cards for her if she let herself be loved.

Ahh, Mitch. What a sweetheart! He's got a heart of gold. He's part of this big family that has looked down on him in ways despite them being loving towards him, so he has his fair share of vulnerabilities. But the man knew how to love openly and he wasn't afraid to show April ALL THE LOVE. She does spend a lot of time pushing him away, which was understandable given her complicated relationship with love and romance, so I did feel bad for the guy. I would have liked a few more romantic scenes between them towards the end, but overall, I enjoyed the slow-burn friends-to-fake-lovers-to-real-lovers romance they had going on.

Overall, this was a great read and I had fun chatting with Andi as I read this book! Jen DeLuca is an obvious favorite here on The Infinite Limits of Love!

3.5 Stars

Well Matched is the third book in the Well Met series. In this book, we follow April (Emily’s older sister) as she prepares for her daughter’s high school graduation, her estranged ex-husband appearing asking to see her daughter, while also listing her house for sale.

April was a young, divorced mother who always put her daughter’s needs before herself. Now that she will soon be an empty nester, April plans to leave Willow Creek and start a new life in the city.
The lovable high school gym teacher, Mitch Malone, is struggling to have his family take him seriously. Mitch asks April to be his fake girlfriend at a large family function in order for his life to look more secure.
April agrees and they begin a hilarious and charming weekend of faking a relationship. After returning home, they both find themselves caught up in their deception and begin to second guess their true feelings.

This book is full of some of our favorite tropes; fake dating, only one bed, age gap and Sunshine/Grumpy character contrast.

In many books I find the “grumpy” character is usually the male, when in this book, it is April. Mitch is a bright light and full of fun. April struggles with the pressure of being a single parent and never being the “fun” one. I love seeing how Mitch brings out the lightness and warmth in April. Meanwhile, April grounds Mitch and believes in him when he feels others do not.

They also have a 9 year age difference, which could consist of the “age gap” trope. Being the older of the two, April feels insecure and past the phase of life that Mitch is in.

I found April’s character to be very frustrating at times, but her struggles make her so much more relatable to the reader. She worries too much about the opinion of others, has trouble being honest about her feelings, and is unsure about her future.

Mitch’s character was *swoon* a dream. He carries his own insecurities as well, but is so sweet and caring to his family and April. Mitch never thinks the worst of a person, he only wants to be loved.
I thought their relationship was very special. A lot of the book was spent with the two of them alone, so you are really able to see their sweet chemistry together.

We are also reintroduced to our other favorite friends in Willow Creek from the past books. The Renaissance Faire plays a role in the book as well, but it is not as prominent as the rest of the series.
I had a great visit back to Willow Creek watching April and Mitch find love within themselves and each other.

I loved this!!! It might be my favourite in the series. All these characters are so fun to read about! I would have loved some chapters from Mitch’s point of view but yeah I really enjoyed this :)

YES. Just yes. So much yes. This is the book I didn’t even know I needed. Not only did it continue my love of how the Renaissance Faire is portrayed in Willow Creek, but it gave side characters in the first and second novel more of a story – and I loved every page of it.

April, Emily’s sister who had been in a car accident prior to the first book, is the star of this one. April and Mitch, anyway. Mitch, the fun-loving ladies-man who doesn’t settle down and just enjoys having a good time whenever possible. But when Mitch needs a pretend girlfriend to get his family off his back, he turns to April, and for some reason she decides to agree to it. What she doesn’t expect is for this carefree and all-woman man to seem so interested in her – and only her.

Unexpectedly, as well, this one weekend charade turns into much more when Mitch’s family shows up at the Faire later in the summer. Pretending to be Mitch’s girlfriend in front of his family in another town was one thing, but in front of her family and friends is another, and April is faced with numerous decisions in the moment, which aren’t her favorite thing.

I loved this book. I loved April and Mitch together, and I loved seeing them come out of their comfort zones together. I highly recommend this one, this series altogether, and I really hope to see a fourth book soon.