Powerless (Chestnut Springs, 3)

Another excellent read from author Elsie Silver. I can't WAIT to read this entire series again, like going back for a 2nd piece of pie at Thanksgiving ;)In Powerless, we learn why Jasper has such deep sadness in his soul. In the first two books, there are simply allusions to him having a less than stellar home life. What he really had was a shattered childhood. But Harvey and the Eaton boys took him in when he had lost everything.Sloane and Jasper met when she was 10 and he was 16. Sloane took one look at Jasper and fell head over heels for him - for the next 18 years. She tried to grow herself out of it, but the facts were simply that he was her person and she was his. It was just a matter of time. What she doesn't realize that she's merely a pawn in the eyes of her father - he's basically just been grooming her for an arranged marriage that has absolutely nothing to do with love.I just love Harvey and his horrible jokes and his old farmer's wisdom. What a wonderful character. I also loved Sloane's mother, and I'm kind of hoping for a future romance between these two, even if Harvey was already married to Cordelia's sister.I'm not a really big fan of the MMC taking on that 110% controlling alpha mode in the bedroom (or kitchen, whatever). And the edging? Ooof. I do understand why Jasper takes on that persona, as it's probably the only thing in his life he's ever been able to control. I just wish that it wasn't 98% of the time. I love the scenes where the lovemaking becomes something more than just the characters, that true and simple melding of souls in a physical manifestation. And yes, I do realize that Sloane can take control if she wants it - I just wish Jasper knew that she is the last person on earth who he needs that control for.Excellent story, well done. Just a fraction under Reckless in my rankings of my favorite Chestnut Springs books.Sweet Scale: 4/5Spicy Scale: 4.5/5

I liked this book overall. The first 50% was INCREDIBLE, I literally couldn’t put it down for a second. Jasper was giving tortured hero and I ate it up. The angst was superior, and Sloane was so sweet and in love with Jasper I just couldn’t help but root for her. The scene after they almost crashed was GOLD. Honestly felt like peak Elsie Silver right there. I will say that after that it went downhill, with Jasper’s feelings being super intense out of nowhere, spice that added nothing, and a third-act breakup that made little to no sense. Overall it was a good read but it just missed the mark for me with the character development and the relationship as a whole.

Great read. Lots of laugh out loud moments like the first book. Happy ending after a very bumpy road for these two. Love this series so far!

Gah!! I just want ONE book that doesn’t make me so angry I have to put the book down and take a break. I get it, it’s a romance so we are gonna have the tried and true tropes. There’s gonna be angst, there’s gonna be miscommunication, there’s gonna be will they, don’t they. It was just so much! 60% of the book was them just internally monologue to themselves how they have cared about the other so much for so long but will never get the chance so will get over it.I enjoyed Jasper and Sloane, I really did. Cade and Willa were a hard act to follow, and they didn’t quite live up to it. But they were enjoyable in their own right. It was an original story with funny banter and nice character development.Something that I’m realizing is a theme of this series is that the characters deal with inner conflict much more than external conflict. That’s all valid, but it gets repetitive easily especially when the same motif is used in basically every story: I’m damaged goods and therefore no good for you, so I’m going to be an ass to push you away.Probably my biggest complaint about this was the indecisiveness of Jasper’s nature. Like, is he a control freak who needs to be in charge of everything, the only man who gives control up to Sloane and lets her make her own choices and be free, or a misogynistic douche who calls all the shots and blames it on his trauma? All three happened frequently, but all three of those can’t coexist.ALSO - can we just talk about how he has a tattoo of a ballerina and didn’t think she was ever going to see that??? They talk about his being shirtless numerous times in front of her and they go swimming together. ????

PowerlessFriends to lovers isn’t usually my go-to trope. I’m not sure what it is about it, but I don’t usually enjoy them as much. This one, however, I loved.Sloane, a prima ballerina has had a crush on Jasper, a professional hockey player since they were children. When Sloane discovers her fiancé cheated on her, Jasper breaks her out of her wedding and rescues her. What follows is a tale of love and heartbreak as the two navigate their time together and re-discover their friendship all while fighting the attraction they feel towards each other.The two also embark on a road trip together, where alcohol and one-bed lead to truths being spilled that they can’t take back.The tension and character development in this book were excellent. Sloane grew from a meek character, to a dynamic, strong, and independent woman, fully encouraged by Jasper. And Jasper learned to not only love himself, but forgive himself for past mistakes and move forward, encouraged by Sloane.To top off the excellence was a dynamic cast of side characters, who keep the reader laughing throughout the book!Tropes:✨Friends to lovers✨Runaway bride✨Hockey✨One bed✨Small town✨She falls first, he falls harderOverall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Overall Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️.5