The last time Caitlin Parker worked for during the summer at the Willow Creek Renaissance Festival she was eighteen. It was a magical summer and she fell in love not only with the magic of the festival, but also with a Alexander Wright. Alex was working with a group of guys called the Sword Bros, entertaining crowds with their rehearsed sword play. When Alex ended their relationship abruptly, it broke Cait’s heart but also took away her love of the festival and she never returned until this year. Now 24, unemployed and looking for work, she’s back in her hometown, living at home, and sidearmed by her aunt into helping out during the faire. She is promised that the Sword Bros are not one of the acts, but what she doesn’t realize is that Alex is now a solo act and has also returned for the summer. Promising herself to not get involved, Cait ends up falling in love again, but is is with the man or the festival?

I’ve read all of the books in this series and although none of them have ever matched my love for the first novel they’ve eached brought a different viewpoint and romance that centers on the Willow Creek Renaissance Festival. In this fifth novel, it’s fun to see where all of the other characters are in their lives, but also to relive this event for what may be the last time.

Caitlin and Alex were both very young when they first met and now six years later they are a little older and wiser but somehow still retain that innocence that being young brings to a story. They are both trying to find their way in the world and discovering their paths forward and it made me look back to when I was that age. Gosh they seemed so young, but at 24 and 26 I was in the exact same place, although not wearing Renaissance garb (thank goodness). I’ve read some comments from other reviewers about how this felt like a young adult romance and at times it did, but even in your early to mid 20’s you are kind of still young adults. So, for this older lady their actions, reactions, emotions, and feelings all fit that age as I remembered it to be. I was not one bit disappointed with their youthfulness.

I thought both characters showed quite a bit of growth during their one month working the festival. Caitlin figured out her feelings for all things Willow Creek, the festival, and also her rekindled amour for Alex. He, too, was trying to find his place in the world and found it in this small town with Caitlin. I liked how their future seemed to have that shiny newness by the end of the book and that their story felt complete. Huzzah! I liked this installation in the Well Met series.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

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