Well Matched

Jen DeLuca

Oct 2021 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

A pretend relationship gives two friends more than they bargained for in a Renaissance Faire rom com filled with flower crowns, kilts, corsets, and sword fights.

Single mother April Parker has lived in Willow Creek for twelve years with a wall around her heart. On the verge of being an empty nester, she’s decided to move on from her quaint little town, and asks her friend Mitch for his help with some home improvement projects to get her house ready to sell. 

Mitch Malone is known for being the life of every party, but mostly for the attire he wears to the local Renaissance Faire—a kilt (and not much else) that shows off his muscled form to perfection. While he agrees to help April, he needs a favor too: she'll pretend to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family dinner, so that he can avoid the lectures about settling down and having a more “serious” career than high school coach and gym teacher. April reluctantly agrees, but when dinner turns into a weekend trip, it becomes hard to tell what's real and what's been just for show. But when the weekend ends, so must their fake relationship. 

As summer begins, Faire returns to Willow Creek, and April volunteers for the first time. When Mitch's family shows up unexpectedly, April pretends to be Mitch's girlfriend again...and it doesn't feel so fake anymore. Despite their obvious connection, April insists they’ve just been putting on an act. But when there’s the chance for something real, she has to decide whether to change her plans—and open her heart—for the kilt-wearing hunk who might just be the love of her life.

Ratings and reviews

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca, book three in her Well Met series, is an enjoyable story of a single mom, April Parker, about to become an empty nester, and a younger man, Mitch Malone, well liked by the residents of their quaint town. April is ready to move away and start fresh in a new location, now that her daughter is about to go off to college. Before being able to sell her house, she asks her friend, Mitch for his help with some of the home improvements she needs. Mitch asks April to pretend to be his girlfriend for a family reunion dinner, that soon becomes a weekend affair. April is dealing with many life change; her daughter, Caitlin, leaving for college, trying to figure out if she should indeed move to a bigger city and a condo, or stay within the community she's built, even if it was accidently. April is a mama bear, protecting those she cares about. When she witnesses the way Mitch’s family treats him because he chose to be a teacher, she goes all outs, conveying, in detail, all of the wonderful contributions he makes to their community. Just when you thought April and Mitch could keep up their charade; they decide to give in to the chemistry sparking between them and the magnetic attraction pulling them together. At least until they don’t. April is transitioning from one season of her life to another, and allowing her preconceptions about Mitch to be influenced more by her own fears than the man he truly is. Add in a Renaissance Faire, flower crowns, kilts, corsets, sword fights, friends, and family and April will have some serious decisions to make about her future. Ms. DeLuca wrote a wonderful, emotional, humorous story that reverses tropes and should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, humorous banter, and charming secondary characters helping April and Mitch take a chance on love and a future together. I highly recommend Well Matched to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This is the third book in the Well Met series by Jen DeLuca and I think it was my favorite so far! April Parker is a single mother whose only child is going off to college. This is the moment April has been longing for.....to move on with her life which includes moving away from the small town of Willow Creek. April decides to accept her friend Mitch Malone's help in getting her house ready to sell. In exchange, Mitch wants April's help by pretending to be his girlfriend at a family weekend away. The fake relationship quickly turns into more, but only in secret. April loves spending time with Mitch. What's not to love....he's sweet, he's hot and he really knows how to fill out the kilt he wears at the Renaissance Faire. Part of the problem is that April is planning on moving....plus Mitch is almost 10 years younger than her. Well sometimes the best laid plans are not what we really want in the long run. After much deep down thinking, April realizes that what she really wants is Mitch and together they get the perfect happy ending. I just loved Well Matched by Jen DeLuca. It was such a perfect fake to real relationship along with the age difference trope. I just adored Mitch! He was so fun and I couldn't get enough of him. Everyone only saw one side of Mitch, but deep down he had many other layers that he doesn't let many people see. It was also enjoyable watching April finally knock down those walls she built around her heart and let Mitch inside. Together these two made such a fun couple. I highly recommend this story. Between the wonderful characters and the entertaining story line, this story was just perfect!

About the author

Jen DeLuca was born and raised near Richmond, Virginia, but now lives in Arizona with her husband and a houseful of rescue pets. She loves latte-flavored lattes, Hokies football, and the Oxford comma. Her novels, Well Met, Well Played, and Well Matched, were inspired by her time volunteering as a pub wench with her local Renaissance Faire.