Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Powerless

My least favorite of the Chestnut Springs book so far :( For several reasons. First of all, I feel like we don't really get a proper introduction of Sloane in the previous books. We see her for a brief minute in the second book, but she doesn't really get mentioned before - this caused me to not be super invested in her, because I didn't know her. Secondly is that I guess I didn't really enjoy Jasper as a character? Maybe he was a little bit too broken for me, and a bit too much of a hypocrite (like when he was saying he didn't want to tell Sloane to tell what to do but also being a controlfreak at at the same time and telling her exactly what to do). I guess it just didn't sit right with me. I loved seeing some of the other characters though, and the setup for Winters story seems like fun.

Content Warnings

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

I wanted to read this book because Elsie Silver is adored all over the book community, I have been enjoying this series. I love romance and cowboys and hockey. I wanted to know more about Jasper and Sloane from the peek that we got in the last book. This story was hot, and I loved it.

This book is based on Jasper and Sloane. They are two childhood friends, two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything, that’s all this was supposed to be. After all, they’ve been living in the friend zone for years now. But the hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at Sloane Winthrop like a friend anymore and he isn’t touching her line one either. To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented and loyal athlete on TV. But to Sloane, he’s still the lost boy with the sad eyes and a heart of hold. The man she has loved in secret for years. So when Sloane’s life fell apart on her wedding day, it only makes sense that he is the one to swoop in and save her. And when his world comes crashing down around him, Sloane is there to return the favour. But the more time they spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything she has ever wanted and thought she could never have. Their feelings aren’t straight forward though. They twist and turn around the pain of Jasper’s past and the reality of their present. Jasper acts like he wants Sloane. But after years of turning Sloane away, he is going to have to prove it.

This series is so addictive. I didn’t think that cowboy hockey romances could be this addictive, but I just wanted to devour this book. This book was so trauma-based but also so fun and flirty. I loved the romance between Jasper and Sloane and how Jasper didn’t want to cross the line, but also really wanted to cross the line. Sloane is just wanting some clear information and Jasper is just shutting down. I loved the Eaton family, if they would like to adopt me that would just be perfect because I loved the family dynamic and how they would all go to bat for them especially with Beau being missing, Cade being a new dad again and Rhett just winding everyone up. I love how they were all wanting to smack Jasper for taking so long to declare his feelings for Sloane, but then also winding them up that they were like cousins even though they weren’t. I loved that Sloane had a kick-ass development of not knowing whether to go back to the partner and keeping daddy happy to then be telling them to go and fuck themselves and that they are sly. I loved that chapter of her showing up like a boss ass bitch ready to take them down and then Jasper comes in as backup.

Winter finally grew on me, and I can’t wait for her to leave her husband for Theo, also can’t wait to see Beau’s story because we know exactly how that is going to go down. Half of this book was spent worrying about Beau and the road trip that I ended up skimming some of the chapters. I would have liked Beau’s storyline to come near the end, it should have been the main part of the story but Jasper growing a pair of balls.

I cannot wait for Beau’s and Theo’s books and hopefully I will get a favourite book from one of them soon.

Content Warnings

beckyremillard's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

Content Warnings

karlapardo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

Such a good book!!!! I loved this book and the characters. Jasper is just *chef's kiss*. The way this man loves Sloane is beautiful, he would do anything and everything for her, the love is just palpable. Sloane has so much growth in this book that it just makes the reader love her a little more every chapter. I think that both characters had huge growth. Jasper with his traumatic and tragic past and brooding attitude; Sloane being so easily manipulated and she had no self confidence. And then the growth going to Jasper letting Sloane in and being able to let go of his brooding and grumpy personality because of her. And Sloane stepping into herself and her confidence and independence was beautiful to read. The SPICE! So good. I loved their connection, and their understanding and support for each other. They were just meant to be. Their relationship just had me in love and the more the book when on the better it got.

Memorable Quotes

"No, Sunny. I shouldn’t be scared. You’re the least scary thing in my life. You’re not just tattooed on my skin. You’re branded on my heart. Woven into the fiber of my being. The most constant and reassuring person in my life. When I close my eyes, I see you. When you’re away from me, I dream about you. When I need someone to lean on, you are always there for me. God. You’ve loved me when I haven’t even been able to love myself"
"He's constantly trying to blend into the background, but even when he's hiding, I see him."
“It’s like she and I are tethered together, but she’s the strong one. The pillar. And when troubled waters wash me downstream, all I have to do is follow the rope that ties me back to her. It always leads me back to her.”
“But as usual, she doesn’t shy away from my darkness—after all, she’s my Sunny. She chases away the dark just by being herself.”
“I mean, if y’all can overlook tail-babies, I’m not sure what could really keep you apart.”
“I want him to be as connected to me as I am to him.”

Content Warnings

thatgirlgeorgia's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

3.75

Content Warnings

laurenellisx's review against another edition

Go to review page

inspiring sad 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

4.0

Content Warnings

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Rating: 5/5 stars

Sloane Winthrop has loved Jasper Gervais from the moment she saw him, but he’s never felt the same…until now?

This book is absolutely the perfect friends-to-lovers story. The tension was top-tier, and I loved the simple beauty of a story about finding the person who will always accept you for exactly who you are. POWERLESS made me tear up multiple times, and while some aspects of the third-act conflict were frustrating (again, as per usual) the ending was absolutely pitch-perfect.

Also, the snippets/teasers for RECKLESS???? I am absolutely feral.

If you haven’t read this series yet, literally what are you waiting for? Here’s your sign to get started.

CW: Infidelity; mentions of death of child/grief; injury/danger of loved one; mental health; toxic parental relationship/emotional abuse

Content Warnings

More...