Thank you to Elsie Silver, Raincoast, and Bloom for the copy of the new Bloom edition of Powerless, the third story in the Chestnut Springs series.
I adored Jasper and Sloane’s story the first time, the second time made me never want their road trip to end.
Two childhood friends. Two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything. That’s all this was supposed to be. Afterall, I’ve been living in the friend zone for years now.
But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either.
To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. But to me he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold.
The man I’ve loved in secret for years.
So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor.
But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have.
Our feelings aren’t straight forward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present.
Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me.
But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it.
Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
- Characters: I love both Sloane and Jasper so much. When we meet Sloane she is about to embark on a trainwreck of a marriage to a man that would make her father happy but not herself. She’s been in love with Jasper since they met as kids and she’s learned to hide not just her feelings for him but just about all her other complexities from her family. This book is as much a journey for Sloane’s character as it is for her romance with Jasper. She learns that she does not have to settle or keep her fierce kindness and loyalty stuffed inside herself. Jasper is such a great hero too. He’s a hockey goalie in the NHL an elite athlete at the top of his game, while also still being that shy boy the Eatons adopted as their own. Jasper’s deep brothership with Beau and the other Eaton boys, and his father-son relationship with Harvey are some of the shining gems of this book.
- Setting: The story begins in Chestnut Springs, with Jasper and Sloane almost hiding at the Wishing Well ranch once she has gone full-on runaway bride. Then the two of them are presented with the chance to go on a road trip and who does not love this trope in a romance?! So many nights at hotels, that have only one room left with only one bed in them! Also Elsie Silver I see the Rose Hill cameo and of course, they go to Ruby Creek and visit Gold Rush Ranch. I found this part even more compelling in my second read-through, so much so that after this I went and binged the entire Gold Rush Ranch series.
- Pacing: This book is just so easy to get lost in, maybe it is the road trip vibes but this is one of Elsie’s easiest books to read in just a few sittings. I also find this one of her least rushed endings, which is a problem I usually run into with some of her books.
- Romance: Sloane and Jasper will melt your heart with their adorable friends finally telling each other that they have had deep romantic feelings for each other for years! For years without telling the other person. So when that combo hits you get toe-curling good smut, thanks again to the only one-bed trope. But the way they support each other against everything the world is throwing at them, you cannot help but feel so heartwarmed by this couple.
Powerless receives five out of five stars.
You can pick up the story below…
Shop Local | Amazon | Indigo
Thank you again to Raincoast for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog.
