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 .

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance E-Copy of Powerless by Elsie Silver in exchange of an honest review.

"Powerless by Elsie Silver takes readers on a captivating journey filled with passion, angst, and unexpected twists. Sloane, a talented ballerina, has long held a deep-seated love for Jasper, her childhood best friend turned professional hockey player. Their complicated dynamic and Jasper's repeated rejections have led Sloane to bury her feelings, until a shocking revelation on her wedding day forces her to reevaluate everything. Silver weaves a delicious tale of forbidden desire and intense emotions, keeping readers hooked from start to finish.

This second installment in the series proves to be a standout, even surpassing the first book. While the previous book may not have been to every reader's taste, Powerless delivers a more compelling storyline and explores new territory. The angst in this book is cranked up to a hundred, leaving readers breathless and engrossed in the ups and downs of Sloane and Jasper's relationship.

One unexpected element that sets this book apart is the introduction of Dom/sub themes. These spicy and intimate scenes, while not overly abundant, add a tantalizing layer to the story. The author's skillful execution of these moments contributes to the overall angsty and restless atmosphere of the novel. Be warned, there is a significant amount of edging and orgasm denial, which fans of this genre will appreciate.

Throughout the narrative, readers are treated to the vivid portrayal of Sloane and Jasper's deep connection, enhanced by their complicated history. Silver expertly explores the emotional rollercoaster of their relationship, making readers yearn for their happily ever after. While at times you may want to smack Jasper upside the head for his behavior, it only adds to the overall tension and keeps readers invested.

In conclusion, Powerless is a captivating addition to the series that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. Elsie Silver's ability to crank up the angst, incorporate unexpected kink, and deliver steamy scenes ensures a gripping and enjoyable reading experience. Prepare to be hooked!"

This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the additional background on the characters we met in previous books, and I’m personally always a fan of the “he falls first”, or maybe in this case the “they fall together, but he’s clearly smitten” trope. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to check this out!

4,5

I thing this one is my favorite in the series so far !
Jasper and Sloane keep sending each other in the friend zone even if they’re in love. Childhood friends to lover are sweet and loving.
I loved the small flashbacks from their childhood (just enough to know them without being boring !)
It was easy to love them from the beginning to the end :)

Elsie is the queen when it comes to small town romances! Powerless is probably one of my favorites by her and it features some of my favorite tropes. Jasper and Sloane were perfection and I loved that they were childhood friends. This is book three in the series and they are all great reads.

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel coming down from reading book 2, which is one of my top 3 books ever. Needless to say I was nervous after that.

Enter little ballerina Sloane (nicknamed Sunny) and broody hockey player Jasper (Jas). Friends for 18 years and an age gap of 6 years. Jasper was taken in by the Eaton family after traumatic events led to his family abandoning him as a teenager. Sloane, cousin to the Eatons, was a frequent visitor at the ranch. She spent years pining over her friend (not her cousin- that’s important 🤣). But she was a young and ay that age he was not. Nothing inappropriate EVER happens during this stage. I feel that importance to point out.

It isn’t until they are well into adulthood when these best friends reluctantly share their inner thoughts. It took some trauma for them to come clean with each other. Elsie has wrote some very realistically broken people and found a way to make them whole together in a beautiful story. In her true form there is quite a bit of *ahem* spice with a very engaging plot.

I loved how these two found their own personalities and how they worked through their own drama and trauma until this point in their lives. Both strong characters with tons of support from the Eaton crew. I’m not even mad at Elsie for making us wait so long for this story and for these characters to realize they belong together. She built them up to not rush into anything in life and she took care in developing their character how I imagine they would in real life.

Quite simply, beautiful

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for the advanced copy of this ebook Re release.