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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Elsie Silver delivers a swoony, emotionally-charged ride in Powerless, a romance packed with angst, longing, and heart. With a perfect blend of small-town charm, cowboy grit, NHL adrenaline, and runaway bride chaos, this book had me fully hooked from the first few chapters.
Sloane and Jasper’s story is the ultimate slow burn, 18 years in the making, and the payoff is so worth it. From childhood friends to complicated adults with unresolved feelings, their dynamic is messy, tender, and incredibly raw. Sloane’s journey from being controlled by her high-powered father to reclaiming her freedom was deeply empowering. Watching her walk away from a cold, businesslike engagement to choose herself and eventually, Jasper, was such a “YES GIRL” moment.
Jasper? I’m obsessed. He’s the grumpy, rugged hockey player with a tortured soul and the softest heart, and when he finally lets himself feel? Absolute swoon. His quiet acts of love, rubbing Sloane’s feet, remembering the smallest details about her, the special tattoo, had me melting. Their road trip together was sexy, hilarious, and filled with so many little moments that made their bond feel unshakable. There’s just something about a man who takes charge but still worships the ground you walk on. And Jasper definitely worships Sloane.
Where the book lost a star for me is in the handling of Jasper’s past. His trauma, especially around his biological family, felt a little underexplored. It was a core part of who he is, and while it was touched on, it didn’t get the same emotional unpacking that Sloane’s relationship with her family did. I kept waiting for a deeper dive into that side of his story and felt like we didn’t quite get the resolution he deserved.
Still, this book hits with that classic Elsie Silver cowboy energy. Sloane and Jasper's story is filled with heartbreak, healing, spice, and hope and their HEA is hard-earned and utterly satisfying.
If you’re into emotional rollercoasters, men who fall hard but take their sweet time admitting it, and women who rise from the ashes to take their power back, Powerless is 100% for you. Would I reread? Yes. Would I marry Jasper Gervais in a heartbeat? Also yes.
Sloane and Jasper’s story is the ultimate slow burn, 18 years in the making, and the payoff is so worth it. From childhood friends to complicated adults with unresolved feelings, their dynamic is messy, tender, and incredibly raw. Sloane’s journey from being controlled by her high-powered father to reclaiming her freedom was deeply empowering. Watching her walk away from a cold, businesslike engagement to choose herself and eventually, Jasper, was such a “YES GIRL” moment.
Jasper? I’m obsessed. He’s the grumpy, rugged hockey player with a tortured soul and the softest heart, and when he finally lets himself feel? Absolute swoon. His quiet acts of love, rubbing Sloane’s feet, remembering the smallest details about her, the special tattoo, had me melting. Their road trip together was sexy, hilarious, and filled with so many little moments that made their bond feel unshakable. There’s just something about a man who takes charge but still worships the ground you walk on. And Jasper definitely worships Sloane.
Where the book lost a star for me is in the handling of Jasper’s past. His trauma, especially around his biological family, felt a little underexplored. It was a core part of who he is, and while it was touched on, it didn’t get the same emotional unpacking that Sloane’s relationship with her family did. I kept waiting for a deeper dive into that side of his story and felt like we didn’t quite get the resolution he deserved.
Still, this book hits with that classic Elsie Silver cowboy energy. Sloane and Jasper's story is filled with heartbreak, healing, spice, and hope and their HEA is hard-earned and utterly satisfying.
If you’re into emotional rollercoasters, men who fall hard but take their sweet time admitting it, and women who rise from the ashes to take their power back, Powerless is 100% for you. Would I reread? Yes. Would I marry Jasper Gervais in a heartbeat? Also yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Toxic relationship, Car accident
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I stayed up until 3 AM to finish this book and I have no regrets. I thought Cade was perfect (and he is), but Jasper? I'm swooning all over again. Something about quiet, broody, men just gets me, you know? Add in the emotional back story and a childhood friends to lovers trope and I'm sold.
I freaking loved Sloane's empowerment journey. I know what it's like to realize some of the people you love and who are supposed to love you actually kind of suck. I loved that she was able to find her voice and find her peace. I am so glad that Jasper was able to come out from hiding and face his fears as well.
As for the spice, this sealed the deal. Jasper likes control, if you know what I mean. A gentleman in the streets, a boss in the sheets type of guy. Definitely light kink undertones but nothing too crazy.
I will be so sad when I finish this series because I'm falling in love with every single person in Chestnut Springs. I love that the other characters keep appearing. I love the chapters starting with text messages. I'm looking forward to learning more about Winter and seeing how things between her and Theo shake out.
I freaking loved Sloane's empowerment journey. I know what it's like to realize some of the people you love and who are supposed to love you actually kind of suck. I loved that she was able to find her voice and find her peace. I am so glad that Jasper was able to come out from hiding and face his fears as well.
As for the spice, this sealed the deal. Jasper likes control, if you know what I mean. A gentleman in the streets, a boss in the sheets type of guy. Definitely light kink undertones but nothing too crazy.
I will be so sad when I finish this series because I'm falling in love with every single person in Chestnut Springs. I love that the other characters keep appearing. I love the chapters starting with text messages. I'm looking forward to learning more about Winter and seeing how things between her and Theo shake out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Misogyny
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Here we go: Book 3!
The more that I read of this series, the more I get into it. The whole small town, country cowboy vibe is cute and easy to escape to but what cinched it for me is the whole Eaton clan. It makes the backdrop of each plot familiar while each couple has their own unique story.
For this latest outing, we have a FMC who is a runaway bride and a whole messy situation when her best friend (and dream since childhood) helps rescue her. The author pulls off the friends to lovers trope brilliantly keeping a lot of tension and questions between Sloane and Jasper that felt more grounded than usual with this dynamic.
However, what I appreciated about this couple the most was the balance between Jasper’s disrespect-her-and-I’ll-deck-you vibes and extreme protectiveness to Sloane’s growth into a modern woman with the strength to set boundaries and stand on her own, if needed. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Jasper has some serious spicy skills (🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️) and the chemistry between them is off the charts.
I will admit to feeling a bit of a dip in the pace of the story but that may be that the friends to lovers thing frustrates me to the point where I want to scream “just talk to each other honestly already!!!” But like I said, maybe that’s just me.
As with the other forays into Chestnut Springs, this was a great escapist time which also drew me in more emotionally (Jasper has some serious Rhysand / Mr Grey vibes going for him 🥵) and I was sorry to leave them behind. I take comfort in the fact that there are two more books to go…
4.5 stars 🤓📚
@AuthorElsieSilver #ChestnutSprings #Flawless #heartless #Powerless
#booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookaddict #reading #bookstagram #booktok #bookreview #bookdragon #bookworm #lovebooks #booklovers #booknerd #bibliophile #readingcommunity #bookrecs
#fiction #romance #cowboys #modernromance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Gaslighting
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Jasper Gervais is precious to me, I’ll take no further questions
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Grief
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Gaslighting
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Little disclaimer, I'm not the target audience for these books and they're not my usual genre, just reading them for the fun of it.
I thought this was going to be my favourite book in the series, based on how the mmc had been described in previous books where he appeared as a side character. Unfortunately for me the author destroyed all she had built for the character, and to make matters worse, I hated the fmc. The "plot", if you can even call it that, was seriously just too stupid and unbelievable at times, and I found myself not caring about the situations the mcs got themselves into due to that. I couldn't even find it a fun read because I was just annoyed for most of it. The smut scenes also increase exponentially in this book. Lastly, from this point forward you start to realise the fmcs in particular start blurring all together and reading the exact same (they all are "feisty", bold girlbosses, not scared to talk openly about sex and who make sexual jokes their whole personality ).
I thought this was going to be my favourite book in the series, based on how the mmc had been described in previous books where he appeared as a side character. Unfortunately for me the author destroyed all she had built for the character, and to make matters worse, I hated the fmc. The "plot", if you can even call it that, was seriously just too stupid and unbelievable at times, and I found myself not caring about the situations the mcs got themselves into due to that. I couldn't even find it a fun read because I was just annoyed for most of it. The smut scenes also increase exponentially in this book. Lastly, from this point forward you start to realise the fmcs in particular start blurring all together and reading the exact same (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol