A review by beckyyreadss
Well Played by Jen DeLuca

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The first book was gifted to me by Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing and I enjoyed it and I especially loved Stacey. I am a compulsive series finisher, so even if I didn’t like the first book or had no interest in carrying it on, if I find out it’s a series, I've got to read the series. When I found out the second book was from Stacey’s point of view, I was so pumped and . . . well, this book just sort of flopped and I was disappointed.  

This book follows Stacey, who put her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother. But it’s been years now and she is still here. Even the local Renaissance Faire, where she spends her summer pouring drinks and flirting with patrons, is losing its attraction. She has vowed to have her life figured out by next summer’s Faire. It's about time she found The One. Her friends-with-Benefits Dex MacLean, does not fit the bill. Yes, he’s easy on the eye with is band The Dueling Kilts, but Stacey doesn’t love him. Then she receives a tender email from her hunk and she wonders whether she got him wrong. So when Faire finally returns to Willow Creek, Stacey hopes to at last come face-to-face with the man to whom she’s been exchanging hundreds of loving online messages. 

I liked Stacey, she was amazing in the first book and getting to know her more and her struggles, I just wanted to hug her or drink with her. I love her mum; her mum saved this book from this book being two stars. Her mum was adorable but you could tell where Stacey got her fierceness from that we saw in the first book. I liked how Jen gets into the Ren Faire and how she describes it in so much detail that it feels like you are there. I liked Daniel but he wasn’t making me all hot and bothered and that’s not because he’s a redhead - I just didn’t connect with him, I get he was shy but he was very bland and had no personality expect for getting compared to his cousin. 

Two tropes were in this book that I cannot stand, if it’s done for the right reason or done well then maybe. But this book has the miscommunication trope, which considering this whole storyline was set up on lies, just drove me nuts and Stacey forgave him way to quick for my liking – there was no grovelling, and third-act break up – which wasn’t needing considering they spent the whole story either avoiding each other or sleeping together. I just wanted more chemistry, more sexiness, more fierceness and I just didn’t get it. 

I think Jen DeLuca is good at leading and setting up the new story and making you want more, but I think she just struggles to get an actual storyline once it’s set up. I was just wanted and waiting for more throughout this book.  
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