Jasper is a hockey player and gets invited to his long time friend, Sloane’s engagement party and realizes maybe he has more feelings for Sloane than he realized. It just takes one dinner realizing that he’s a far better catch than the husband to be but feels like maybe he’s too late. As the wedding for Sloane approaches she finds something out that will change her future and there will be no going back and changing it.

Sloane is on a journey of deciding what she wants for her life while Jasper at the same time is trying to figure out if its too late to capture Sloane’s heart. But when the family gets bad news, is it too hard for Jasper too handle? His hockey coach then forces him to take time off… Sloane and Jasper then trying to find a new normal as they escape the problems surrounding them.

I really enjoyed this book! I would definitely recommend a four out of five. There was chemistry and romance with a touch of heartbreak that just made the characters feel real. This book I felt primarily focused on Jasper and Sloane so the reader really got a feel for the couple. My favorite part (***spolier***) was the detailed part of the tattooed ballerina.

Netgalley provided this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and heartwarming small town romance and featuring a brooding hockey player as the main male character and a reserved prima ballerina as the main female character. I loved the pairing and the depth of the friendship between Sloane and Jasper. Even though Sloane has been pining for him for years, Jasper has taken care of her by listening and supporting her. I thought this story was a wonderful take on friends to lover and the “will they won’t they” tension (and subsequent spice) was just perfect.

okay please the chestnut springs men can GET IT 😮‍💨 first I thought rhett would be a new book boyfriend, and then there was daddy cade (say less), and now sweet and caring jasper??? like are we kidding???

this was easily my favorite of the series so far - and it was mostly due to the fact that we got healthy dancer rep! I’m super sick and tired of seeing unhealthy ballerina stereotypes and incorrect representation of life as a professional dancer (as one myself) 🥰🥰

(except for the scenes where she was given the half season off to plan a wedding and could just get hired back for the next season like it was no biggie LOL)

but what I loved the best was how well sloane and jasper just knew each other!! from rubbing feet after performances on pointe, to sitting BEHIND the goal instead of being in a box far away, I was squealing the entire time!!

I just love watching two people overcome their own insecurities together and tear down everyone holding them back 🥹🥹

thank you to netgalley and bloom for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!! read this series!!!!

rating: an easy 5 stars!!!!
wine pairing: niagara on the lake cabernet franc

An amazing read! ✨✨✨✨✨/5
I love the story between Sloane and Jasper! I’m usually not a fan of friends to lovers, but Elsie Silvers delivered a beautiful story with the perfect amount of tension!

If you have liked the rest of the Chestnut Springs series then I highly suggest you check this story out

5 stars

I will start by saying I am a huge Elsie Silver fan. Her writing is amazing and draws you right into the world of Chestnut Springs. Different from the first two books in the series, Jasper and Sloane have a lot more history. And that was shown to us throughout the story.
There has always been something between the Eaton cousin and Jasper as an honorary Eaton. Sloane is a ballerina who, to be honest, is a little bit of a pushover. Hence how she ended up engaged to a man she doesn't love and doesn't even really like. Of course Jasper is there when she decides to run away from the wedding.
I thought I was going to be frustrated with Sloane. She has always had a thing for Jasper and I thought she was going to let him off easy. But she doesn't. She shows growth and a backbone. We learned a lot more about quiet, stoic Jasper Gervais. He is going through a lot, but finally decides to give in to his feelings for Sloane.

I adored Sloane and Jasper. I loved the forced proximity at the farm and the road trip to Gold Rush Ranch!
Harvey is yet again the comic relief and can do no wrong.

Tropes: age gap, runaway bride, friends-to-lovers, mutual pining, ballerina FMC, hockey player MMC, small town, found family

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom books for the early read of the re-release. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Elsie Silver is another new to me author this year and I have now found another amazing one-click author. The unrequited love trope is one of my favorites and I absolutely loved Jasper and Sloane’s love story! But with this we also get the heartache, something or someone is keeping the two apart. It was heartbreaking to see what that was in their story.

As we weave through their journey, what is evident is how they are there for each other throughout the years. They have been childhood friends and they never lost connection, they supported the other full on. When difficult circumstances gives them a chance to be in close proximity, they are given the opportunity to finally reveal how they have felt for the other. When the barriers comes down, the chemistry is intense! I loved everything about their story and continue to look forward to more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloombooks for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Elsie Silver and Source Books Bloom Books publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC of Powerless in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I absolutely adore Elsie Silver, and the world of Chestnut Springs that she has created. This time around we follow hockey player: Jasper, and his childhood friend Sloane as they navigate their love story.

Read if you love:
-Friends to Lovers
-Small Town Romance
-Runaway Bride vibes
-Hockey Player MMC
-Ballerina FMC

Jasper and Sloane are the perfect example that sometimes life brings along someone special... someone who gets you at your very core... and literally no one else will ever compare.

"You're not my fucking friend. You're just mine."

I cannot wait to see what else Elsie Silver has in store for the Chestnut Springs crew!

Elsie Silver is an auto-buy author for a reason. Her Chesnut Springs series just keeps getting better and better. Jasper and Sloane have been friends since childhood, but for her, it's always been more than just friendship. She's loved him since she first laid eyes on him.

Their friendship is something real and precious and I love how even before he realizes how deep his feelings go, Jasper is always there, caring for and supporting Sloane through all the ups and downs. And she supports him right back. Oh, and did I mention he's a professional hockey player? I'm always and forever in my hockey romance era, and Powerless joins the ranks on hockey romances on my bookshelf.

Even though it isn't my favorite out of the series, I still really, really enjoyed it. I loved all the cameos from the other characters from the series, and how interconnected they all are. If I give all the others five stars, I'd give this one 4.5--which still rounds up to five. Lol.

Not only am I totally obsessed with these covers but I'm in love with the stories. Interconnected standalones are my favorites to read and Elsie delivers in spades with this series. I've seen people talk about them forever and finally gave into the hype. I'm so glad I did!

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author. Loved the writing style! Thank you for the ARC!

To say disappointed is an understatement. I've seen all the hype for these books on Booktok and how is was such a good childhood bestfriend story...all lies. The characters are lackluster and have little to no personality. Even after being "threatened" by her dad - he still continued to be around her all the time. Like it clearly wasn't even a threat. The characters were oblivious and the plot was overdone.

5.0/5 ⭐
3.5/5 🌶
5.0/5 🎧

I really can't believe I didn't jump on the Elsie bandwagon sooner. I am in love with her and Chestnut Springs. This mutual unrequited love, childhood best friends to lovers romance was so sweet and heartbreaking and hot. I freaking loved it to pieces. I laughed (Harvey unalives me more and more each book), I cried (broken boys break my heart) and I enjoyed every moment.

I love how strong Sloane was and how she stood up for herself. And the way she was there for Jasper so steadily warmed my soul.

Teddy and CJ were amazing narrators for this story, they did such a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.

First book of this series and I’m obsessed. I will be continuing on with it. The book is fast paced and endearing. Lots of spicy scenes and romantic connections. I enjoyed their love story.

So excited to get the arc to the new Bloom edition of Powerless for the US! Jasper and Sloan are so perfect together and it’s a beautiful friends to lovers story. You really are drawn right into Elsie’s books and it’s hard not to fall so in love with the characters she creates!

He cannot stand watching the woman he secretly loves marry another man. Yet Sloan chooses Jasper to help her escape her own wedding when her fiancée is caught cheating. Now trying to do what makes her heart happy for once, she goes on a road trip with Jasper, the love of her life, and wants him to stop refusing her love for him. Jasper wants her so badly but his past is keeping him from letting her in. But being together on a road trip breaks down those barriers and neither of them can help the feelings that explode.
This book has:
• friends to lovers
• MMC hockey player with dark past
• runaway bride
• ballet dancer MFC
• a road trip
• redemption | chance at true love

I just love this series so much! First of all, the new cover is so beautiful! I love Jasper and Sloane! I hate what her father tried to push her into with Sterling, but love that she was strong enough to walk away. Jasper and Sloane’s love for each other warms my heart! I absolutely love this series. I wish I could read it again for the first time!

I was captivated by the emotionally charged tale set in Chestnut Springs. Jasper Gervais, an NHL star goalie, and Sloane Winthrop, a prima ballerina, navigate a complex dance of love, fear, and self-discovery. Jasper's broken past and Sloane's unrequited love unfold against the backdrop of Wishing Well Ranch. The story, rich in character depth, seamlessly weaves together laughter, passion, and heartbreaking truths. Elsie Silver skillfully explores themes of insecurity and the journey to self-realization. The friends-to-lovers connection between Jasper and Sloane is portrayed with tender hesitation and undeniable chemistry. Their relationship transforms as they embark on an impromptu road trip, and the narrative unfolds into an epic love story. This beautifully penned romance resonates emotionally and leaves a lasting impression, making it a standout read.

Thank you so much to Bloom Books and Elsie Silver for the ARC.

5/5 Stars

This is the third book in the Chestnut Springs series and I have read all three this month and I swear these book are made with something addictive as I couldn’t put any of these down. I think so far this is tied with Heartless for first but we will see how that continues to progress as I love this series so much. This book was friends to lovers which is always a trope I love but the forced proximity and runaway bride made it even better.

I have been waiting for Jasper’s book and Sloane’s since the party scene in Heartless where Sloane announced her engagement. Jasper was a relatively reserved character but I could see that I was going to love him and I did. I also loved the information we learn about Winter and I can’t wait for her book which I want to read as soon as I get my arcs under control more.

Sloane is about to get married but nothing is what she thought it would be. When she was a kid all she could dream about was getting married to the kid with the sad blue eyes who eventually became a heartthrob hockey player, Jasper Gervais. After 18 years though sloane has accepted that Jasper doesn’t share her feelings but when everything she thought she knew comes crashing down on her wedding day Jasper is there to save her and whisk her away from the mess. When a lot of shit happens and Jasper and Sloane are forced to stay close to each other they can’t help but realize maybe they both had the same feelings for each other.

I loved seeing more of Jasper’s story and past because we got hints but never much more and that is because the only one who knew more is Sloane. Sloane was always there for Jasper whether on purpose or just because they knew the other was a safe person for them, they care very deeply for eachother. Sloane was in love with him when she first met him but pushed her feelings to the side because she didn’t want to ruin what they had and she thought Jasper didn’t feel the same way as she did. Jasper was too scared to admit his feelings because everyone he loved left him but when he realizes Sloane has been there for 18 years maybe she isn’t going to leave him if he actually speaks his feelings.

The hints at Winter’s book were addicting and I need more. Winter is a very complex character who grew up with a toxic mother and it has fucked up a lot in her life but I have a feeling we are going to see her finally step up and take control of her future.

I recommend this book and this series so far. It is a great spicy small town romance with a lot of variations from friends to lovers to a nanny romance.

(3.75★)

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

Hockey goalie Jasper Gervais and ballerina Sloane Winthrop are the main characters of Elsie Silver's small town romance Powerless.

This friends-to-lovers story was simply so wholesome, and I loved everything about it, so I don't see how I was ever against this trope. Their hugs, along with Elsie's description of them, conveyed a sincere love.

Also, the way that they had been secretly pinning for one another was EVERYTHING. Like their inner monologue, and the chapters written from their pov were so heart-swooning.

The things Jasper did and said made him both cute and attractive. I just couldn’t get enough of them.

All in all, Elsie knows what she's doing, so this was a really adorable and enjoyable read.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and to the author, Elsie Silver, for providing me with this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

Hockey romance meets small town romance? Yes please!

I’m not going to lie I was a little apprehensive when I started this book. First of all I wasn’t sure how it could possibly be as good as Heartless and after the first chapter I was worried that Sloane was a doormat and I am not here for that. I am so happy to say that my fears were unfounded. While I still think that Heartless will be my favorite in the series, but I loved this book!

This book has it all! Childhood friends to lovers, mutual pining, a FMC who knows what she wants, a brooding dom MMC, there is even a road trip thrown in.

Sloane and Jasper were perfect for each other! I loved how well they understood each other and supported each other. I mean he literally orchestrated a diversion and carried her out of her doomed wedding. And she understands his extreme need for control and where he goes when he retreats in his own head.

The chemistry the two of them had was off the charts. I was thrilled that Jasper’s need for control extended to the bedroom. Jasper was book boyfriend perfection.

I love this series so much! The Eaton family is my new Roman Empire. I love every single one of them but Harvey Eaton is a national treasure and I cannot wait to finish this series to see if he finds his happily ever after too.

Me when Sloane and Jasper. This is by far my favorite Chestnut Springs book!!! I love these two, and this one has a lot less textbook sexism or weird dynamics. I wasn't loving the age gap, but I did enjoy this book tremendously and have read it multiple times now. Cannot wait for that spin-off in the nearby town.