Audio Review: Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Series: Well Met #3
Published by Penguin Audio on 2021-10-19
Length: 9 hours and 30 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from TN R.E.A.D.S.
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2023 Audiobook Challenge, 2023 Backlist Reader Challenge, COYER 2023

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 12 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.

Fantastic read! Well Matched by Jen DeLuca is the third installment in her Ren Faire based romantic comedy series that features a different couple each time. Of all the books in the series, I was most excited to read this one. I adore friends to lovers and fake relationship romances. This one features April, Emily’s older sister, and Mitch Malone.

As her daughter’s high school graduation rapidly approaches, April is ready to spread her wings and fly from the small town she’s felt trapped in all these years. Yet she’s finding the small town isn’t just a place for her daughter, but it’s home to her too. As April struggles with her soon to be empty nest, Mitch has a proposal of his own. He asks April to pretend to be his girlfriend for a weekend at a family function, and sparks fly.

April is not an easy character to like, but definitely the most relatable. She is the first character we’ve encountered that isn’t involved with the local Ren Faire at all despite the fact that her daughter and sister participate every year. With Caitlyn’s graduation rapidly approaching, April realizes she’s missed out on a lot simply because she chose not to be there as her plans were always to leave as soon as Cait graduated. Now she finds herself drawn to the quaint town and the friends she’s made.

The author does a great job of capturing the feelings and thoughts motivating April’s actions immersing the reader in her journey from single mom focused on career to empty nester realizing there is more to life. I loved seeing Mitch from her eyes. In the previous books of the series, Mitch has been little more than eye candy and comedic relief. Here he is given depth. His conflicts with his family and how that brings out the protective side of April is endearing to say the least. The chemistry is steamy, but at a low boil until it is about to boil over. Loved how it’s handled throughout the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Well Matched, listening to it in almost one sitting. Highly recommend it for fans of contemporary romance. Lots of laugh out loud moments mixed with plenty of heart.

* I buddy read this book with Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms and Berls @ Because Reading who rated it 5 stars as well.

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