2.5✨

Went back and forth between 2 or 3 stars so here we are. This book was just kinda boring and both Sloane and Jasper lacked substance. Both had their respective sport and their messed up family and that was literally about it.

We didn't even really get to see their "friendship" from over the years play out because the flashbacks were pretty short and vague

What do you do when the girl you’ve been in love with is going to marry a man completely wrong for her? luckily for Jasper Gervais he doesn’t have to think hard about it because he’s the getaway for runaway bride, Sloane. Sloane has loved Jasper since she was a child, and when word gets out that her cousin Beau is missing in action, she plans to be there for Jasper as much as he’s been there for her. When asked to take a trip to Beau’s sister’s ranch, Jasper agrees to do the drive and Sloane is his copilot. The drive makes their feelings come to light and Sloane is about to get what she’s always wished for … but Jasper is hiding a secret that could blow up before the two even take off.

Ya’ll DID NOT TELL ME how great Jasper is. Holy hell. I ate this boom UP. Jasper is one of the better book boyfriends I’ve read lately. The amount of angst mixed with humor was everything I needed and more. I’m honestly a little stressed the rest of the series will not compare to this book.

I loved the newest installment in the Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver. It was fun to catch up with some of the couples from the previous books in the series. Although this is a series book, readers would be fine to enjoy it as a standalone story as well. It's a wonderful friends to lovers romance with tons of angst, and even more spice. Male main character is a professional hockey player and the female main character is a professional ballerina who have been friends their whole lives. I didn't want this book to end and it was a quick read with a satisfying end.

Jasper and Sloane are childhood friends to lovers. Jasper and Sloan are the definition of meant to be. Sloan has only ever had eyes for Jasper but after years of trying to get Jasper's attention without success, she gives up. Which is how she got into an engaged situationship where the only person benefiting from it is her father. Jasper has recently started to develop feeling for Sloan, but it's too late. It looks like she's moved on. Sloans wedding day falls apart, and Jasper is driving the getaway car. where she then finds out that her fiancé has been unfaithful to her, but instead of feeling devastated all she feels is relief.

First thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for this ARC for and Honest review.

Now that being said, wow just wow 🤩 this book was super cute. Childhood friends to lovers was just super cute. It was beautiful and comforting to watch them FINALLY acting on their feelings after years of ignoring each other, and the way I was feeling all giddy and giggling because of their sweet and wholesome moments and their sweet friendly banter and here and there touches like they just can't get enough of each other. They were always made for each other. The moment they laid eyes on each other they knew that no matter what happens its always going to be Jasper and Sloane against everything in this world.

This was a perfectly angsty read, I loved the connection and the banter between the MCs 😭 they've been in my head all week, ever since I finished the book, I can't stop swooning over them 🥲

TWs - death of sibling (past, but recounted in present), absentee parents, parent who died of overdose, negligent parents, misogyny by parent/partner (not by the MMC), sibling who goes mia while on military duty

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This book was amazing! It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it was still a solid 4.5 star read for me!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4. I loved this love story. I loved every thing but the steamy parts lol. it was just a little to much for me. He just seems to love her so much and after all they both go through the style didn't seam to fit. I wanted him to be sweeter lol. I don't hold that against the book though because just because its not for me doesn't mean others won't love it.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This is my first Elsie Silver book and I enjoyed it! I think I probably would have loved it more if I'd read the previous books in the series; that way I have more appreciation for the other characters. I really liked Jasper. Friends to lovers isn't usually my thing but this was good. Definitely would read the rest of the series.

Loved it!

It took me a bit to get into this one because it felt almost too slow for me at first. It felt like nothing was happening but when it did, it was quite a ride.

Jasper was my favorite, nothing better than a super sweet, jealous and possessive main character. I didn’t love Sloane at first but It was great to see how her character developed, she became strong and confident. I loved seeing her interactions with her father and Sterling.

The transition of friends to lovers was great and all that pining was top tier! Loved everything about it. I was so happy to see the family once more, Willa and Harvey are hilarious. They had me laughing out loud so many times.

Would absolutely recommend this book and the whole series to everyone.

Powerless is the one book from Chestnut Springs series that didn’t hit quite as hard as the rest. I adore friends to lovers, road trip, there’s only one bed romances, but for some reason the pacing felt a little slower than the other books. I still enjoyed the story but it was my least favorite of the series. 3.75 stars (4 for netgalley)

All the stars! I love this author and series! But this has to be my favorite in the series so far!! Jasper is so swoony! I loved him hard! He deserved loved! I’m so happy he finally started to learn he was worthy of love and his found family! Sloane was so sweet. I adored watching her also grow into the woman she was meant to be! And the fact that Sloane finally got her crush Jasper in the end! These two had a lot to overcome before we made it to an HEA but it was so worth it! They exploded off the page when they finally gave in to what they both wanted! I seriously can’t say enough about how I loved this story!

Sloane and Jasper have known eachother for close to 2 decades. Sloane has had a crush on Jasper since she was 10 years old and laid eyes on him at his Uncle's ranch. Jasper was dealt a crap hand as a teen, lost his sister in an accident, his parents left him homeless but the Eaton family took him in and gave him a home. Sloane is a ballerina, and engaged to a man to further her father's business interest. Jasper is a famous hockey player at the top of his game. When Sloane's wedding day goes up in flames of course Jesper is there to pick up the pieces, and what comes after is an opportunity for them to finally explore something that has always been there between them.

Childhood friends to lovers has quickly been climbing up my list of favourite tropes, and this one certainly did not disappoint. The way Elsie Silver writes vulnerability within her characters is beautiful. Both characters were broken for different reason but the journey of healing they both took together was inspiring. The balance of character development and sexy smut was perfect. The chemistry between the characters was palatable. Elsie Silver really knocked it out of the park with this one.

Loved loved this book. The romance , the tension. Everything i need for a good romance book. Definitely hooked on this series

I think Elsie Silver is officially a favorite author. Another win. I love this series!!!
Jasper is
I love him so much.
The friends to lovers relationship was everything I wanted. And the spice
Lawd help me!
I feel like I should say more but I'm just speechless and in love with this series!
BTW...if you happen upon a copy of Reckless with the indie cover, I would appreciate the heads up! It's the only one I'm missing and I'm desperate

After reading the 1st of the Chestnut Springs series and not knowing anything about it, that book was so good that I want to read the rest in this series. Following #1, this was a disappointment. It started off promising, I completely understand how this is up as a Goodreads Choice, but as we head towards consummation and the repeats that happen as we near the end, it felt blah. I like a good spicy romance but the bossy sex and power elements (Jasper being the demanding type) didn't do it for me. It felt forced and unattractive.

I've never been much of a friends to lovers fan, I always felt that the love between the two characters would be unbalanced. One pining after the other for years and years, putting so much effort and emotion into this relationship while the other character gets to all of a sudden wake up one morning and realize their feelings. If I'm not a fan you might ask why I even read this book...welp...I'm a sucker for a pretty cover and I had recently read Reckless and fell in love with Elsie Silver's style of writing.

Powerless was really good, the pacing was comfortable, I didn't want to put it down but as I read this over the Thanksgiving holiday I was forced take breaks. I really enjoyed Jasper's character even though I felt he was a bit of a dummy for not noticing Sloane's feelings for literally decades but I did enjoy his tortured hero bit. Sloane, my poor girl, what the hell did she do to deserve to get saddled with a dad and fiancé like those two bozos?? I don't know how she turned out so free spirited and so sunshiney but I loved it. I felt Silver put in a really good effort towards balancing the relationship but unfortunately I just felt that Sloane read more invested in Jasper in the end. But that could just be me and my hang ups about this type of relationship trope.

Overall a solid contemporary romance with a bit of sports thrown in. I plan on reading the rest of this series and Silver's other works at some point. This world she's created is just too good not to consume. Thank you so much to Bloom Books for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Jasper Gervais, the man with sad eyes and a heart of gold. A man of few words and a past that still haunts him. He loves fiercely and has a special connection to Sloane, they’ve always connected easily, despite their slight age differences, they were more than friends from the start, connected from their souls.

”You’re not my fucking friend. You’re just mine.”

childhood friends to lovers about a ballerina who's used to listening to other people's plans for her, and a hockey player with a rocky past and a fear of abandonment.

”When it comes to you, I’m Powerless.”

Also, I love Harvey. through the series he just becomes better and better and in this one he was so supportive and funny and I just loved his personality and his he would treat his family. The one bed comment is my favorite.

Another great book from Elsie Silver. This has a lot of my favorite themes and tropes—childhood best friend, one bed-trope, hockey player, etc, etc. And Elsie Silver can sure write smut. I will admit I've only read "Reckless" from the 'Chestnut Springs' series so I am definitely going out of order, but I've enjoyed the journey so far. I love how Silver includes all her previous and soon-to-be main characters within the story, so you don't forget about them and their stories continue. My only criticism is that sometimes there are redundant and fluffy chapters that just elongate the story.

Powerless by Elsie Silver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’d love this book! It was a first read for me by author Elsie Silver and I now need to get all of them! Her writing style draws you in and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters! Jasper is swoon worthy and I couldn’t get enough of this friends to lovers romance!

Sloan and Jasper have been friends since childhood, and she’s always felt some thing for him, but never took it out of the friend zone. When she leaves her fiancé at the altar and runs, Jasper is there to help her through. And it looks like he’s ready to take the relationship to the next level.

This one had everything great characters, romance, spice. This is a must read .