Flawless (Chestnut Springs, 1)

Flawless hooked me from page one and kept me obsessed all the way through. Elsie Silver delivers the perfect mix of small-town charm, slow-burn tension, and sizzling chemistry. Rhett and Summer’s dynamic is everything — funny, tender, emotional, and the kind of romantic build-up that makes you kick your feet while reading. What really stood out to me is how real and grounded the characters feel. Rhett isn’t just the typical broody cowboy; he’s complex, respectful, and easy to fall for. And Summer? She’s smart, confident, and brings such warmth and humor to every scene. Together, they balance each other so perfectly. This book has the ideal amount of spice, but it also has heart. The family dynamics, personal struggles, and emotional growth make the story feel meaningful while still giving you all the swoony moments you want from a romance. It’s one of those books you start thinking you’ll read a few chapters, and suddenly you’re halfway through without noticing. Completely binge-worthy, beautifully written, and full of that cozy-but-spicy vibe that makes Elsie Silver’s books so loved. If you enjoy cowboy romances, slow-burn chemistry, or just a story that feels good from start to finish, Flawless is an absolute must-read.

A bull rider and his agent—how did I not see this coming? Summer (h) is the “other child” of the family, conceived from a quick romp with a maid, and feels like she has something to prove, be it loyally following her father or nurturing those around her because “I’m an empath” (and no, not in the actual way, more like the Tumblr way). Rhett (H) is the youngest cowboy in his family (save his little nephew) and has built an unsupported career off the adrenaline rush of bull riding at the risk of worsening his injuries and running his mouth. When Rhett’s jokes and less-than-graceful handling of nosy journalists nearly tank his career, Summer is sent out as his glorified babysitter. And that’s how our small town, enemies to lovers story kicks off. I found the term “enemy” was a very, er, <em>inaccurate</em> way of describing our H and h. They are both victims of circumstance who don’t get along and have their little scuffles, but that doesn’t make them “enemies”. I’d say this is more of a <em>strangers to lovers</em> phenomenon than enemies. Enemies to lovers for me needs to be all about the mockery, the hurt, and one attempt of legitimately murdering the other (be it in body or in mind). I enjoyed this book subverted several tropes in such a <em><strong>natural</strong></em> way. For example, Summer may be unapologetically city girl, but she can ride horses, she’s not embittered at her father’s infidelity, she’s better at endurance training than the guys <em>without</em> monologuing about it, and she understands when she is hurt. I was very worried when Rhett got hurt that Summer would make up with him then. But when Rhett went all, well, <em>Rhett</em>, I was pleased she walked away and rightfully ignored him. I also very much liked she was unapologetically city girl and very brilliant without monologuing or exacerbating her differences between her and the country folk. I had a bit of an issue with all the “nibbling on her lips” and “I’m an empath—a nurture”. The verb <em>nibbling</em> requires both lips and picturing it (because, as some of us do, we create an entire feature film as we read) made me gloss over any of her “anxious tells”. I also liked how this was a subverted babysitter trope to a degree. I get annoyed at the whole agent/PR x athlete trope because the agent comes off as snarky and childish as they <em>literally</em> treat the athlete like a child who knows nothing or a “dumb jock” and refuse to apologize for it. The antagonism between these two were realistic, and I’m happy Summer knew better than to embarrass anyone while on the job and also took Rhett’s own emotions into account. I <em><strong>did</strong></em> like Rhett more towards the end than at the beginning. I especially loved when his father shut down Rhett’s “possessive Alpha” act with advice almost every MMC needs: stop focusing on the person eyeing your lover and focus on who your lover is eyeing. When people gawked at two of my previous partners, I felt pride because that means others were besotted with their charm as I was. And I felt so lucky someone so well-sought after was with me and I got to know them under all the vanity. Possessiveness and jealousy are actually darkly thrilling to read <em><strong>within the context of the story and/or character</strong></em>. Some authors make cinnamon roll MCs aggressively jealous as a way to “show a whole new side” but it feels shoehorned in. Rhett’s jealousy actually felt like one small part of his personality, and his father’s quick word of advice was perfect. No soapboxing. No shoehorning. No signing. Two sentences and we’re done with that ish. What prevents me from 5⭐️s is the use of family and the best friend. I’m sorry. I <em>hate</em> the “I have one sole bestie in this world” trope. Willa was nice, sure, but I didn’t vibe with her. Family as an external conflict away from the couple’s own issues is fine with me. The naming (Summer and Winter) was a little too much. And also, Kip might’ve been great in <em>some</em> aspects, but if his wife and daughter are causing so much distress to his much more beloved daughter, it begs the question why he never sought divorce. I do like, however, that Winter stayed cold until the end. Honestly, I’d like to see her with Caleb. I love the grumpy/grumpier trope which is a <em><strong>rare</strong></em> breed of story. But it’d be fascinating to see how even a grumpy Caleb manages to thaw Winter out of her ice queen persona and also help provide much more of a natural insight to Luke’s mum. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it’s Willa x Caleb and Winter x Beau. <em>Le sigh</em>. Anywho: good read. References to OW with a fake out and some good OM drama too. I’m not sure how the steam was. Little miscommunication outside a singular stupid moment. The main strife came from words spoken shots fired. 4.25 ⭐️s. 💜

Starting off 2023 with a recommended book AND a new to me author. Taking a risk to start the year, but I was game and ready to gamble. I’m not big on cowboy books, movies or shows, but yowza! Rhett Eaton makes me want to ride a cowboy! "Now, tell me honestly, Summer. If this were your last moment on earth, what would you want me to do?" I don't even have to think about it. I know what I want from him. "Ruin me." "Good, I'm about .... done being a gentleman with you. And the only thing I'm ruining you for is anyone else." Rhett has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with his sponsors. He's a bull rider, has won it all twice and wants to win once more. But he's a little older AND he's just announced he doesn't like milk and he may have hit a someone that just may have deserved it. Enter Summer. His new "babysitter" assigned to him by his agent that must keep him on the up and up the last few months of the tour so he won't tarnish his reputation and lose more sponsors. Summer will be moving into his family home, traveling with him and watching his every move, but she also happens to be the daughter of his agent. Could things get any worse? Flawless was a fun age gap, forced proximity romance with some of the best banter. I loved the beginning of the chapters and the texts between the characters. It was fun to see how Summer and Rhett's relationship changed throughout the story by those texts. It had me laughing and smiling at each build up. At first, Rhett wanted nothing to do with Summer, but oh how he changes his mind. I really liked seeing this grumpy bull rider that has a reputation with the women show how polite and family oriented he is with his door opening, chair pulling out, why he is riding and his 'ma'ams'. Trust me. That will make you melt too. Then there is Summer and the way she stands up for Rhett to his family, her father and everyone that even says anything negative about him. She may have had a childhood crush on this good looking bull rider, but getting to know the rider himself had her really connecting to him. I really enjoyed these two and their connection. I liked the way Summer supported Rhett, his riding goals and the way he loved his family. Speaking of the family, I am 100% invested in the Eatons. I have a feeling these brothers are going to do me in. And we can't forget about Summer's dad. Because I loved him as a boss, but as a father? Perfection. He is the type of father we all want. Summer wanted someone to love, support her and just be there for her, and while she found that in Rhett, she had a father that truly adored her and would support her in anything. Flawless is a story that should be on all your lists if you're a small town romance lover. Like I said, I'm not a "cowboy romance" type of reader, but Elsie Silver got me with this one. Totally loved Rhett and Summer, but I really enjoyed the whole supporting cast of characters and I look forward to seeing them in future books. I will be back for more in this series.

I really enjoyed this story! I’m not in my “romance phase” right now, but my daughter recommended Flawless, and I’m so glad I read it. I’ve seen Elsie Silver’s books everywhere and always meant to try one. Happy that this was my first. I loved Summer and Rhett. Their romance was a little predictable, but still so much fun, and I enjoyed the twist with Rob, it didn't hurt my feelings a bit. That sister of hers was something else. Small-town settings are always a favorite of mine, and I loved the “strong woman taming the wild one” vibe. Summer’s family history broke my heart. Her bond with her dad was wonderful, but it frustrated me that he never stood up to his wife and Winter for how they treated her, especially since he was the one who made the mistake, not Summer. That part bothered me a lot. On the flip side, Rhett’s family completely stole my heart. I can’t wait for Cade’s book. He’s my favorite of the Eaton boys so far, though Rhett’s retirement definitely earned him a lot of points. Overall, this was a great introduction to Elsie Silver’s writing. Not sure why it took me so long to finally read one of her books, but I’ll definitely be picking up more!

Flawless came highly recommended, especially by BookTok, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. Maybe it was a case of wrong timing, or maybe we simply weren’t meant to click. The story itself is fun, sweet, and cute, but I found it too basic for my taste. The small-town cowboy romance trope didn’t captivate me, and I realized that bull riders and rugged ranchers aren’t my thing. The male main character (MMC) was meant to be a gruff, alpha-type hero, but to me, he lacked the depth and presence of a truly manly lead. Despite the author’s efforts, he didn’t exude the level of masculinity that I expected. The romance felt rushed, with a fast-paced plot that didn’t allow for a deep emotional connection. The conflict between the characters seemed trivial, and the “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic wasn’t as compelling as the title suggested. The female main character (FMC) wasn’t particularly relatable, which made it difficult for me to feel invested in her journey. That being said, Flawless is a light, easy read with some spice, and I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy small-town cowboy romances. It wasn’t for me, but I’m not mad about it—just unimpressed. A solid 3 stars.

Flawless is right - I absolutely LOVED this from start to finish. I'll admit that I'm a cover hoe and that's the primary reason I checked out this new-to-me author's work, so I had no idea what was in store for me when I started reading. But this gripped me from the first few pages, and I loved the electric connection between these characters. It's not quite enemies to lovers, more like strangers who resent having to be around each other, and I loved the friction that formed from their frustration (sexual and otherwise, lol). Our hero has a bad reputation, but it wasn't long before I was falling hard for him - his vulnerability and insecurities were so endearing, and it was easy to see how deep his feelings ran. And by the end? Whoa boy, he took me by surprise in the best of ways, which made for some super swoony moments. And some super steamy moments. The buildup of all that forced proximity (including an only one bed situation) made this slow burn to SIZZLE even more impactful. It's an all-around stellar read that didn't disappoint at any turn. The story follows Rhett (32), an aging bull rider whose body is starting to fail him. While he's been putting his life on the line for over a decade, the aches and pains are beginning to wear on him. So when an unfortunate PR situation puts his career on the line, Rhett is frustrated and resentful. He risks his health every time he gets on a bull, and the fans who once built up his confidence now threaten to take away the one thing that makes him feel like a success. Add to that, Rhett's agent has assigned him a "babysitter" in the form of his sexy but uptight daughter. Summer (25) is tasked with keeping Rhett in line, and his partying, playboy reputation makes her believe that will be quite the feat. But Rhett is nothing like Summer expected, and it's not long before she's seeing the real man who lives beneath the cocky persona. Now... I'm not someone who usually reads romances about bull riders and ranchers. I definitely have before, but it's never been something that's felt fresh or relatable to me. This did. It took only a few pages for me to start rooting for Rhett and Summer - it was obvious that these two opposites would easily attract. I loved how Summer falls for Rhett's true self, and it was clear that he was aching for someone to do so. Playboys always seem to fall the hardest, and that's definitely the case here. Rhett falls hard and fast, putting up a valiant effort to resist but soon tumbling in a big way. I really appreciated that Silver didn't play up his playboy past or add a lot of unnecessary drama; Rhett's done a lot of growing on his own, but he's been stuck with a manhoe label even though it doesn't fit as well as it used to. And once he meets Summer? There's no going back. It was easy to see how much she irrevocably changes him, and they were so absolutely perfect together... in AND out of the bedroom. It's got plenty of spice, but the focus is on their connection - and that was consuming and vivid. I love being surprised by books, and this is a great example. It's nothing like I would've expected, but everything that I wanted.

Am I about to enter my Cowboy Romance era? I swore off Romance books a year ago, but we’re so back! Rhett Eaton has no business being that hot on paper. As our FMC, Summer, says, “There’s something about a man who is damn good at what he does that holds an appeal for me”. Although I loved Rhett and Summer separately, their chemistry was lacking something for me. I loved their story and learning about their pasts, and I think they are an adorable couple, but the explosive fireworks weren’t there. Regardless, this is such a fun read, and I will absolutely carry on with this series. So... Save a horse, ride a cowboy, I guess.

After finishing the Gold Rush Ranch series, I dove straight into Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series, starting with Flawless. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Rhett Eaton, the golden boy of professional bull riding, finds himself in a bit of a PR nightmare after a public brawl. To clean up his image, his agent assigns him a "babysitter" for the season, none other than his daughter, Summer. The chemistry between them is instant, and their banter had me laughing out loud. Summer is no damsel in distress. She's strong, independent, and doesn't take any of Rhett's nonsense. Watching their relationship evolve from tension-filled encounters to a full-blown romance was a joy. The slow burn kept me turning pages, eager to see when they'd finally give in to their undeniable attraction. Elsie Silver has a knack for creating characters that feel real and relatable. Rhett's journey from a cocky bull rider to a man who realizes what's truly important was both heartwarming and swoon-worthy. And Summer's no-nonsense attitude paired with her vulnerability made her a heroine I could root for. The setting of Chestnut Springs added a cozy, small-town vibe that contrasted nicely with the high-octane world of bull riding. It was a refreshing change of pace and made the romance feel all the more genuine. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers tropes, forced proximity, and a healthy dose of humor, Flawless is a must-read. It's a fun, fast-paced romance that checks all the boxes and left me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.