Stacey is desperate for some change in her life. She gave up her future to move back to Willow Creek after her mother became ill and she's been stuck in a holding pattern ever since. She did have a fun summer fling with Dex - he's only it for a romp, nothing serious. But then they start exchanging emails and he's suddenly the perfect man. Has he changed? Or is he someone else entirely?

I really can't get enough of Jen DeLuca's Renaissance Faire series! This time it was a case of mistaken identity (well, on one side) and it was resolved in a way I didn't expect - with maturity instead of shenanigans. I appreciated that. I also appreciate the fact that DeLuca's characters sound like real people - and I very quickly became fond of Stacey. The only problem is, I've finished all the available books! Now I have to wait for #4. AHHH!

​Emily moved to Willow Creek to help her sister out after a car accident. She's happy to help out with her niece, but unfortunately this means she has to volunteer at the local Renaissance Faire. So now she has to spend time with Simon, the English teacher who seems to hate her. But at the faire, he's a pirate with swagger and she might just be the bar wench he needs in his life.

I am so in love with the Renaissance Faire concept in this series. Well Met served up fake handfasting in place of fake dating and I enjoyed that quite a bit. I wish I'd started with this book, though it was nice to meet April at the start of her journey. Simon annoyed me sooo much at first, but DeLuca must have the magic touch because I was falling for him just as quickly as Emily was! And now I must begin the next book...

April has been a single mother for nearly eighteen years and she has always planned to leave Willow Creek the moment her daughter graduates. But her plans may suddenly be in disarray - and all it took was agreeing to pretend to be the girlfriend of Mitch, the gym teacher who sometimes wears a kilt! But April knows she's not sticking around...this relationship has to stay fake. Right?

I really enjoyed this. DeLuca writes very genuine characters and it was such a relief to read about characters swearing, because I honestly can't relate to all those chick lit heroines who don't. Fake dating is, of course, one of my great weaknesses - I loved "watching" it all play out. Admittedly, I bought this book for the kilt on the cover, but I definitely wasn't disappointed by the lack of Scotsmen! I think I'll be checking out the other books in the series.

Sophie Johnson lived to tell the tale and got her happy ending with Darcy - or did she? Now running the Jane Austen Dating Agency with then help of Emma Woodtree (ha!), she has a wedding to plan for a successful agency couple and she's still trying to get that exclusive editorial position at the magazine. But all these competing priorities still don't stack up against the threat of Darcy's mother.

This sequel had more of the same Austen-esque shenanigans, so if you liked the first book you'll enjoy this one. I never thought that Darcy actually suited Sophie. Seeing him get booted in favour of an other suitor - well, that suited me just fine, though I'm sure I know what will happen in the next book. And of course I'll still read it! I enjoy this sort of light-hearted fun.

Polly feels alone in her large ex-B&B house, haunted by the past. Erica is struggling to balance her career with her daughter and her often-missing husband - and now the nanny has just quit. Louise loves her husband, but maybe it's best if they spend some time apart. The solution to all their woes is unusual: they all move into the B&B with their kids. At first, it's perfect. And then it's very, very not...

This was quite a solid debut and had a fascinating premise to kick things off. I did find it difficult, however, to become invested in the book since there were simply no likeable characters. Could I understand these women and their actions? Yes. Did I want to spend hours with them in my head? Good Lord, no. But I can still appreciate how this story was crafted. It hits all the notes it needs to.

Laura's sister, Polly, has a wedding to prepare for and so Laura is put in charge of looking after Hunter, the old school friend of Polly's soon-to-be husband - and a surprise guest. Hunter and Laura immediately clash. Having to share space with him is bad enough...how is she supposed to keep him a secret from the groom? And will the groom even want to see him?

This...just wasn't as interesting as it sounded. The leads had no chemistry, the story felt flat and it was hard to find much of the goings on believable. I don't think it was terribly objectionable, though. And if some parts had been developed better then I might have enjoyed it.

A family Christmas is always going to be stressful, but add in an ex-alcoholic father, a father reappearing after a lengthy absence, a father flying the coop when he realises his child isn't his, and a father with sad, secret news - then the stress becomes practically stratospheric! Gaby and Jack are so run off their feet with the pub that they haven't any presents for their daughter. Can this Christmas be merry at all?

So I'm writing this nearly a day after finishing the book because MY EMOTIONS. Baird made me love all these people and seeing them go through so much makes me want to hug them all (...even Zac). Evie and Tamar were a delight, especially in scenes together! And Dylan finally shed his cardboard cutout identity and became a well-rounded character. I'm sad that this seems to be the end, but also happy to see off Lochalshie and its people when they're in a relatively good place.