Elsie Silver

The last of the Chestnut Springs series was a delight, and Elsie Silver has cemented her go-to status with me. I was never a fan of small town romance before last year, but with the US becoming a bastion of hate, exclusion, and warmongering, I find I want gentle stories about rural Canadians who support one another and also have a lot of good sex. I will say that Chestnut Springs seems to be disturbingly White, but I will assume that is not by design.

This book brings us Beau, the last Eaton show more left unhitched. He was always the happy-go-lucky, the suave special forces guy, until he is injured and lost on an ill-fated mission and is returned with serious injuries and PTSD. He finds a reason to live in silently supporting the town pariah (she comes from a criminal family and is therefore an outcast despite trying to get out of her circumstances). Bailey is 15 years younger than Beau, but in many ways, she is an older soul than he is. She is also a person who has never been loved and supported, and Beau wants to do that for her. I liked these characters a lot. This is not a perfect book, but it is swoony and sexy. Bailey is a great character, super strong, and Beau is a difficult man, both felled and empowered by love. We also get cameos from all the Eaton clan. What more can a romance reader ask for? show less

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Reckless is the fourth installment in the "Chestnut Springs" series and the most recent release that the author has come out with these books. I have to say though, this book completely took me for a turn. I have struggled a bit with this series, they just haven't quite clicked for me completely, but I went into this one pretty openly with a fresh outlook and wanting to take it for what it is and not for show more the hype surrounding it. And from the reviews that I have read from those I fully trusted, I knew that this was the best book of the series and I can concur that this is the BEST book that I have read from this author so far. I was so impressed with how this one was handled and absolutely adored how this was implemented. Now if you are nervous about the secret baby aspect, just trust me on this, its the best written secret baby I have EVER read. Elsie Silver really handled it delicately and I admire that.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Theo
A profession bull rider, a bit of a ladies man and playful especially with women and prickly ice queens turn him on. He has charm, patience and love for family

The Heroine: Winter
A strong STEM style of heroine, she has had to keep herself hidden from her sister, betrayed by her husband and working on a fresh start. But she doesn't trust easily and is a bit of a lone wolf only relying on herself and struggles trusting others into her heart and life.

Summary
Theo and Winter meet in the most unlikely place....a gas station in a small town. There are sparks that fly but when they find themselves at a mutual family gathering, the sexual tension between them only rises and they end up sharing a one night stand after signing consent forms on a coaster in a bar. When Winter finds out that she is pregnant with Theo's baby, she is shocked. After years of struggling to have a baby, Theo of all things knocks her up. With a turn of events, she finds herself a single mother, struggling to raise this baby on her own, and when truths are revealed and Theo learns that he is a father, Theo is dedicated to Winter and their baby girl in a way that Winter has never known. The playboy and the ice queen are the most unlikely match, but discover a deep passionate love through it all...

My Outlook
oh my HEART!! This book just tore me up inside and out. I just couldn't get enough of these two here. And the way in which they come together and seeing their story being told in such a phenomal passionate way just had no choice but strike deep to the soul. Elsie Silver has definitely won me over with this one here, and is hands down the best book she has written! I have no clue how she was able to captivate me in such a way, but she definitely worked her way effortlessly in this one here.

I will admit that I was highly nervous on this one here especially on the main trope of this one which was "Secret Baby". I first want to point out that the author handled this very delicately and you can trust her to handle it correctly. I do think that the way its handled by this couple is just right. There are aspects to the situation that a third party gets involved, but neither Winter or Theo are at fault here. Winter does her duty in this one and makes her effort to reach out to Theo on it. And when Theo finds out the truth, was the most CAPTIVATING moment of the book and I think this moment will stay with me for a very long time. The devastation he feels in how much he has missed with his daughter was so heartbreaking. You really see his heart in this moment and it just tore me up inside, seriously, I was sobbing my heart out when this hero is torn to shreds over it. The way he stands by Winter, wanting to be by her side and help meet in being a parent with her was so touching.

I know also some readers might be nervous for Winter's character because she has been known throughout the series as a "Ice Queen" and I can reassure you, you will love her character. I am so picky over ice queens and most of the time they just don't end up working out for me. But in this one, it totally worked for me. We see all of her vulnerabilities and seeing her true character behind that ice shield very early on in the story which I appreciated. We see her human side and not the persona that she showcases to everyone. I never thought that I could relate to her in this way, but the author wrote her brilliantly with a side of softness and deep pain.

The romance that develops between Theo and Winter is so delectable. I loved seeing these two together, and their connection strikes deep to the heart. I just couldn't seem to get enough of them. I absolutely adored these two and their story resonates on a basic human level. You know that the author will deliver on the steam level of course. But seeing their connection go deeper than just the physical is what really won me over. Seeing them learning each other and letting go of their past reservations and embrace what they have and with their baby girl was so precious. You can definitely trust in Elsie Silver to write such a beautifully portrayed romance with western aesthetics to expound on a heartfelt romance.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 5
World Building:5
Cover:5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Steam: 5
Heart & Feels:5
Ending:5
Overall View: 5 show less

4.4 stars

The more I read from this author, the more I find myself devouring her words like air. There is something special about these characters. I first discovered her from Rhett's book and had to go back and devour the series that started it all with Violet. I'm glad I did.

I know nothing about horses other than it took me almost 40 years to get back on one after getting bucked off. They terrify me while also fascinate me. This series makes me even more captivated.

Violet and Cole were show more perfect in this book. There were a few areas that I wished had been fleshed out more but it still was a solid book. Billie was still a hoot. I'm looking forward to the next book. show less

This story hooked me! Rhett, the bull-riding golden boy, gets saddled with Summer, his agent's daughter, as his babysitter. What starts as a bumpy ride turns into an electrifying, enemies-to-lovers romance. Rhett may seem cocky, but he's got depth, and Summer, dealing with her past, learns to find her voice and happiness. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the banter had me in stitches. Elsie Silver's writing is addictive, blending humor, steam, and emotion perfectly. The small-town show more setting and supporting characters, like Rhett's family and Summer's best friend, add layers to the story. This isn't your typical cowboy romance; it's an all-consuming, intoxicating read. I can't wait for more from this series! show less