A review by justmevictoria
Powerless by Elsie Silver

4.5

 

When you're saved from marrying the wrong man by the guy you've crushed on for forever… 

 

Sloane Winthorp has had a massive crush on hockey star Jasper Gervais since the day she first laid eyes on him as an 11-year-old and he lived with her cousins on Wishing Well Ranch. And she's never been that subtle about her crush either. But the years have gone on and now she's about to walk down the aisle to marry a man her father picked out for her and who doesn't make her nearly happy enough, but she's fine to just settle for him rather than trying to survive the dating pool. Fortunately, before she finds herself in a loveless marriage, her wedding day falls to pieces and Jasper is there to whisk her away and finally let her live her life on her own terms. When the Eaton family are struck with horrifying news, Sloane and Jasper are there to support one another, heading off on an impromptu road-trip to haul hay to Sloane's cousin Violet across the mountains. Alone in each other's company, Jasper doesn't hide how he feels about Sloane, and it's all her teenage self could dream about. But as much as she wants to give into her feelings and finally be with the man she's always dreamed about, Jasper is going to have to step up to prove that he really wants her after years of continually showing her they're not meant to be together. With a world of heartache in his past, truly letting someone in is hard for Jasper because every person he's ever loved has left him in some way. And potentially watching Sloane walk away would totally destroy him, but maybe it's a risk he's willing to take to have forever with her. 

 

Someone needs to point me in the direction of Chestnut Springs and the Eaton family because this is the place I want to be! I don't know what Elsie puts in her books, but I cannot get enough! Her writing just pulls you into the lives of these characters and the world of Chestnut Springs, and I'm already sad about leaving these characters behind come book five - if I didn't have a ridiculous TBR I'd 100% be rereading these books for eternity. 

 

Sloane and Jasper were everything I wanted and more after the snippet of their chemistry in the previous book. Childhood friends to lover and teenage crush to lovers is always such a swoon-filled, kick-your-feet trope and Elsie absolutely nailed it. The slow burn, the mutual pining, the chemistry, the tension, the spice - this book had it all and I couldn't get enough! There's so much history between these two, and both have a lot of past trauma and baggage to deal with individually as well as together, and there's a lot to deal with emotionally. But it all ultimately deepens and strengthens their connection, tears and all. Cade and Willa are still my faves (at this point in time) but Sloan and Jasper come really close to taking the top spot! 

 

Also Harvey Eaton is the absolute bomb and needs to be protected at all costs! I'm so glad Elsie is telling his story through bonus chapters because I was about ready to demand he get his own full-length novel. He's just the cherry on top of the entire Eaton clan whose dynamic I absolutely adore. While I'm here for the romance, it’s the family banter and relationships that really sucks me into these books like a big warm hug. Also we got a snippet of the Gold Rush Ranch couples, which is a nice cameo for those who have read the earlier series, or for me, a great little insight into the stories I get to follow when I finally read those books. 

 

Again, there's a reason that everyone LOVES Elsie's books and Chestnut Springs, and I can tell you now that the hype is 100% deserved! If you're a lover of small-town romance and cowboy romances, THIS is the book and series you need to read ASAP.