Ren Faire part 2

 Well Played by Jen DeLuca

I HATE secret keeping as a trope. But, it worked in this book. At least initially. The audience knew (if you read the back of the book) that Stacey was not emailing with her summer fling but with his brainy cousin, Daniel. So, even though Stacey didn't know we did, which made the secret keeping less like a secret. Then, when she finally found it she made a plan on how she was going to confront him, and while her end of the plan went fine, Daniel didn't so any of the things she thought he was going to do which forced her to re-evaluate just how made she was. Which, was not really any at all. So, they are now, finally, together, in person. Things are going well. We got a lot of Emily and Simon in this book; their wedding was a big subplot. And Stacy and April became friends as a result. But then, Stacey overhears Dex and Daniel and come to find out, Daniel lied to her. Again. This time it was that Dex didn't know when in reality he did and he told Daniel to end things with her for him (Dex being the summer fling she thought she was emailing initially). So, she thinks Daniel was not actually interested in her and just taking his turn. He checks out and leaves the Faire early. Then emails her pouring his heart out. She, of course, is heartbroken. April shows up, takes her out, she spills all. Mitch shows up and he talks her out of driving in the dark and the next day they all go together to the new Faire so she can try to win back her man. The run into Dex and he tells her where to find Daniel, then, while they are talking, "accidentally" bumps them into each other. They talk things out and she decides to go on the road with him and things are good. This was cute and sets up book three well. I can't wait to read the next one. I love that the previous characters played an important role in this book, and I hope that trend continues.