Powerless by Elsie Silver

Powerless by Elsie Silver is an emotional and addictive friends-to-lovers romance about two childhood best friends who have spent years hiding what they truly feel for each other.

To the rest of the world, Jasper Gervais is a famous professional hockey player.

Handsome.

Successful.

Recognizable.

The kind of athlete fans watch on television.

But to Sloane Winthrop, Jasper has always been something completely different.

He is the boy she grew up with.

The boy with sadness behind his eyes.

Her closest friend.

The man she has secretly loved for years.

Unfortunately, their relationship has remained safely inside the friend zone.

Until Sloane’s wedding day falls apart.

When everything in her carefully planned life begins collapsing, Jasper is the person who comes for her.

And when Jasper experiences his own emotional crisis, Sloane is there for him too.

Suddenly the two childhood friends are alone together, escaping everything on an unexpected road trip.

No families.

No wedding expectations.

No hockey crowds.

No convenient distractions.

Just Jasper and Sloane.

Years of feelings.

Years of tension.

And far too much time together to keep pretending nothing is happening.

The more time they spend alone, the more obvious it becomes that Jasper is no longer looking at Sloane as merely his childhood friend.

And Sloane has never really stopped wanting him.

But attraction is the easy part.

Both of them carry emotional baggage.

Jasper’s past has left deep scars.

Sloane’s present is tangled in family expectations and a life that increasingly feels like something chosen for her rather than by her.

If they are going to move from friendship into love, both will need to stop hiding from the things that hurt them.

Powerless by Elsie Silver delivers the emotional intimacy of lifelong friendship, the chemistry of a slow-burn romance, the tension of unspoken love and the warmth of the interconnected Chestnut Springs world.

Powerless by Elsie Silver – Book Overview

Powerless by Elsie Silver is the third novel in Elsie Silver’s popular Chestnut Springs series.

This installment focuses on Jasper Gervais and Sloane Winthrop.

Readers who have already spent time in Chestnut Springs may recognize Jasper from the broader family and friendship circle surrounding earlier couples.

But now the quiet, emotionally guarded hockey player gets his own story.

And the woman standing beside him is the person who has known him longest.

Jasper Gervais

Jasper is famous.

But fame is only the version of him strangers know.

To hockey fans, he is an athlete.

To the people closest to him, he is much more complicated.

He carries emotional pain from his past.

He has learned how to keep parts of himself protected.

Success has not magically erased those wounds.

That distinction becomes important throughout Powerless by Elsie Silver.

Money, fame and professional achievement do not automatically heal old hurt.

The Hockey Star

The professional hockey setting gives Jasper a public identity.

Fans see:

Performance.

Confidence.

Skill.

Celebrity.

But Sloane sees the person underneath all of that.

That creates one of the romance’s strongest dynamics.

She knew him before fame.

She knew him before the polished public version.

She knows the quieter man behind the athlete.

Sloane Winthrop

Sloane has loved Jasper for years.

But loving someone does not mean believing they will ever love you the same way.

She has spent a long time trying to accept that Jasper may always remain:

Her friend.

Her safe person.

The man she cannot have.

Eventually she moves toward a different future.

One that includes marrying someone else.

Then the wedding day goes wrong.

The Runaway Bride Setup

The wedding-day collapse changes everything.

Suddenly Sloane has to confront an uncomfortable truth.

How much of the life she was building actually belonged to her?

Family pressure.

Expectation.

Image.

Security.

All of these things can influence major decisions.

The crisis forces Sloane to reconsider the future she had been moving toward.

Childhood Friends to Lovers

The central trope in Powerless by Elsie Silver is childhood friends to lovers.

This makes the romance different from two strangers suddenly becoming attracted.

Jasper and Sloane already know each other.

They share history.

Memories.

Private jokes.

Old wounds.

Comfort.

Trust.

That means when romance finally begins appearing, the emotional stakes are much higher.

They are not risking only a new relationship.

They are risking an old friendship.

Why Friends-to-Lovers Works

Friends-to-lovers romance often asks one difficult question:

What if telling the truth ruins everything?

If your crush rejects you, that hurts.

If your best friend rejects you, you may also lose the person who knows you best.

That fear can keep feelings hidden for years.

Jasper and Sloane understand this risk.

Secret Love

Sloane’s feelings have existed for a long time.

This gives Powerless by Elsie Silver a strong unrequited-love element.

She has had to watch Jasper live his life while believing that friendship may be the only relationship available to her.

That creates emotional tension long before anything physical happens.

Jasper’s Feelings

The road trip changes the way Jasper allows himself to see Sloane.

Or perhaps it forces him to acknowledge feelings he has been avoiding.

The difference between:

I care about you

and

I want a life with you

can be enormous.

Jasper has to recognize which one is true.

Forced Proximity

The spontaneous trip places Jasper and Sloane together away from normal life.

This creates forced proximity.

They cannot easily distract themselves with:

Family.

Friends.

Work.

Wedding plans.

Ordinary routines.

Being alone together makes every look, touch and conversation harder to ignore.

The Road Trip

The road-trip structure gives the romance room to breathe.

Travel takes people outside their normal environment.

When familiar routines disappear, people sometimes become more honest.

Jasper and Sloane are temporarily removed from the roles everyone expects them to perform.

That creates space for change.

Escaping Versus Running Away

But travel cannot solve every problem.

Leaving town may create distance.

It does not automatically erase emotional pain.

Eventually, people still have to deal with:

Family.

Career.

Past trauma.

Relationships.

Consequences.

The road trip gives Jasper and Sloane perspective.

It cannot make difficult choices for them.

Emotional Intimacy

Because these characters already know each other, their intimacy begins long before the physical romance.

They understand each other’s:

Moods.

Habits.

Weaknesses.

History.

That emotional familiarity makes the transition into romance feel especially intense.

Being Known

Many romance stories are about discovering another person.

Powerless by Elsie Silver is partly about realizing the person who already knows you may be the person you were looking for all along.

There is comfort in being loved by someone who has seen:

The awkward years.

The mistakes.

The grief.

The imperfect parts.

and stayed anyway.

Jasper’s Past

Jasper’s emotional history is important to understanding him.

He has experienced serious loss and instability.

Those experiences affect how he handles:

Attachment.

Love.

Family.

Fear.

Even when life becomes safer, the emotional lessons learned during difficult years can remain.

Trauma Does Not Vanish With Success

This is one of the more grounded aspects of Powerless by Elsie Silver.

Professional success does not erase personal trauma.

Jasper can be:

Successful

and

still emotionally wounded.

Both things can exist at the same time.

Grief

Grief also influences Jasper’s behavior.

Loss can make people protective.

Detached.

Afraid of depending on others.

Sometimes it feels safer not to want something than to risk losing it.

But avoiding attachment does not necessarily prevent pain.

It may simply prevent connection.

Sloane and Control

Sloane’s storyline also deals strongly with independence.

She has spent much of her life surrounded by expectations.

What should she do?

Who should she be?

Who should she marry?

What kind of future should she choose?

Her wedding crisis becomes a turning point because she begins questioning whether following the approved path will actually make her happy.

Family Expectations

Family can provide love and belonging.

Family can also create pressure.

Sometimes people make enormous life decisions because they fear:

Disappointment.

Conflict.

Judgment.

Rejection.

Sloane’s development involves separating what other people expect from what she genuinely wants.

Choosing Yourself

Romance is important in Powerless by Elsie Silver, but Sloane’s growth should not be reduced to:

She chose Jasper.

The deeper change is:

She begins choosing for herself.

A healthy romantic decision means more when it comes from personal agency rather than simply replacing one controlling situation with another.

Jasper as a Safe Person

Jasper has been Sloane’s safe place for years.

When her life falls apart, she trusts him.

That emotional safety matters because romantic chemistry alone cannot create a lasting relationship.

Trust is already present.

Protection

Jasper is protective.

That can be appealing in romance.

But protection works best when it respects the other person’s autonomy.

Sloane’s storyline is particularly sensitive to this because she is trying to reclaim control over her own life.

Communication

Long friendships can sometimes make people believe:

They already know everything.

But friendship does not eliminate the need for honest communication.

Jasper and Sloane have spent years avoiding some of their biggest feelings.

Eventually, they have to say what has been left unsaid.

The Friend Zone

The “friend zone” is often treated as comedy.

Here, it carries real emotional weight.

Years of friendship create security.

Crossing the line changes the relationship permanently.

That is what makes the eventual shift so satisfying for readers who enjoy slow-burn romance.

Slow Burn

Although attraction is present, the emotional development has been building for years.

That gives the story a slow-burn history even when events in the present begin moving quickly.

The characters have already spent a lifetime creating emotional foundation.

Chemistry

Elsie Silver’s romances are known for strong chemistry and banter.

Powerless by Elsie Silver combines that chemistry with the tenderness of two people who have known each other for years.

The result is both:

Comfortable.

Intense.

Small-Town Romance

Chestnut Springs provides the interconnected small-town setting surrounding the series.

Readers repeatedly encounter familiar:

Families.

Friends.

Businesses.

Relationships.

That continuity makes each new romance feel like returning to a community rather than beginning in a completely separate world.

Found Family

Jasper’s connection to the broader Chestnut Springs family circle is especially meaningful.

Found family can be just as emotionally important as biological family.

A person does not need to share DNA with someone for that relationship to become home.

Belonging

Jasper’s story is deeply connected to belonging.

Where do you feel safe?

Who considers you family?

Do you believe you deserve to stay?

These questions matter beneath the romantic plot.

Love After Loss

When someone has experienced significant loss, love can feel dangerous.

To love someone deeply is to become vulnerable to losing them.

One possible response is:

Keep everyone at a distance.

But that strategy also creates loneliness.

Jasper has to decide whether avoiding future pain is worth avoiding future happiness.

Emotional Walls

Many romance heroes are described as emotionally unavailable.

Jasper’s emotional distance has reasons.

Understanding those reasons does not mean every behavior is automatically healthy.

But it gives the character depth.

Healing

Romance does not magically cure trauma.

That is an important distinction.

A loving relationship can provide:

Support.

Safety.

Encouragement.

Connection.

But another person cannot simply erase everything painful that happened before.

Personal healing remains personal work.

Sports Romance

Because Jasper is a professional hockey player, Powerless by Elsie Silver also contains a sports-romance element.

However, readers should not expect every page to focus on hockey games.

The central story is much more about:

Jasper and Sloane.

Their friendship.

Their histories.

Their emotional development.

Hockey Romance Meets Small-Town Romance

This makes the book appealing to readers who enjoy both:

Sports romance

and

small-town romance.

Jasper brings the professional-sports world into the Chestnut Springs setting.

Fame Versus Real Life

Public figures often have multiple identities.

The one fans see.

The one the media discusses.

The one family sees.

And the private person underneath.

Sloane’s relationship with Jasper is powerful partly because she knows the version untouched by celebrity.

Money Does Not Solve Everything

Several characters in the book exist around money and privilege.

But wealth does not automatically create:

Healthy families.

Emotional safety.

Good relationships.

Happiness.

Both Jasper and Sloane demonstrate that external privilege can coexist with deep emotional problems.

Second Chances

The book also carries elements of second chances.

Not necessarily a classic breakup-and-reunion structure, but second chances at:

Love.

Family.

Identity.

A future different from the one previously expected.

Reinvention

Sloane has an opportunity to rebuild after the wedding falls apart.

Jasper also faces circumstances that force him to reassess his own emotional life.

Sometimes a crisis creates a painful opening for change.

You Can Change the Plan

One useful theme in Powerless by Elsie Silver is that changing direction does not automatically mean failure.

A wedding being cancelled feels catastrophic.

But continuing into the wrong marriage simply because plans have already been made would not make the situation better.

People are allowed to change their minds.

Sunk Cost in Relationships

This connects to a broader idea.

Time already invested in:

A relationship.

An engagement.

A plan.

does not automatically mean continuing is the right choice.

Past investment should not trap someone in a future they no longer want.

Love and Choice

Romance stories often talk about destiny.

But lasting relationships also depend on choice.

Choosing to:

Communicate.

Show up.

Apologize.

Listen.

Set boundaries.

Trust.

Jasper and Sloane cannot rely only on history.

They must decide what kind of relationship they want now.

Friendship as Foundation

Their long friendship gives them an advantage.

They already know each other’s humanity.

There is less pressure to perform perfection.

They know the flaws.

And still care.

Is Powerless by Elsie Silver Part of a Series?

Yes.

Powerless by Elsie Silver is Book 3 in the Chestnut Springs series. The official publisher identifies it as the third book.

The reading order is:

1. Flawless
2. Heartless
3. Powerless
4. Reckless
5. Hopeless

The books focus on different romantic couples but share characters and the Chestnut Springs world.

Do You Need to Read Flawless and Heartless First?

Not strictly.

Jasper and Sloane’s central romance can be understood in Powerless by Elsie Silver.

However, reading the books in publication order is recommended.

Earlier volumes introduce recurring characters and relationships, which makes the interconnected family moments more meaningful.

What Comes After Powerless?

The next Chestnut Springs novel is Reckless, followed by Hopeless.

So if a reader enjoys Jasper and Sloane’s story, there is more of the Chestnut Springs world to continue exploring.

Is It the Same Powerless as Lauren Roberts?

No.

This is extremely important for your website.

Powerless by Elsie Silver is an adult contemporary romance in the Chestnut Springs series.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a YA romantasy and the first book in a completely different series.

Your inventory contains records for both authors, so avoid mixing their ISBNs or descriptions.

ISBN Warning for Your Inventory

I found two incorrect/misleading ISBN associations in your saved inventory.

9781665954884 belongs to Powerless by Lauren Roberts, not Elsie Silver.

9780349437712 is an official Elsie Silver ISBN, but the publisher lists it for the ebook, not the standard physical paperback.

For the Piatkus UK paperback, use:

ISBN-13: 9780349437705.

So before publishing, check the barcode on your physical copy.

Is Powerless a Hockey Romance?

Yes.

Jasper is a professional hockey player.

But hockey is only one component of the novel.

The emotional center is the friends-to-lovers relationship with Sloane.

Is Powerless a Cowboy Romance?

The wider Chestnut Springs series is strongly associated with cowboy and ranch romance, but Powerless specifically centers on hockey player Jasper.

So for product categories, I would prioritize:

Romance > Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance / Small-Town Romance

rather than describing this particular installment only as a cowboy romance.

Is Powerless Spicy?

Yes.

This is an adult romance and contains explicit sexual content.

It should not be marketed as a clean romance or children’s/young-teen romance.

The publisher markets Elsie Silver as an author of steamy small-town romance.

Is It a Dark Romance?

No.

It contains heavier emotional themes and difficult family dynamics, but it is primarily contemporary small-town/sports romance rather than dark romance.

Is It a Standalone?

It is an interconnected standalone within Chestnut Springs.

Jasper and Sloane receive their central romantic story here.

However, the surrounding characters and setting continue across the series.

Content Considerations

Powerless by Elsie Silver includes mature themes involving grief, childhood trauma, difficult and controlling family dynamics, emotional manipulation, relationship conflict, abandonment-related fears, adult sexual content and emotionally intense discussions of loss.

Because editions and reader sensitivities vary, customers with specific trigger concerns may want to consult a detailed content-warning source before reading.

Important Themes

Powerless by Elsie Silver explores childhood friendship, secret love, friends-to-lovers romance, professional hockey, family expectations, grief, trauma, found family, belonging, independence, emotional vulnerability, healing, trust, communication, second chances, forced proximity, road trips, self-worth and choosing a future for yourself.

7 Addictive Reasons to Read Powerless by Elsie Silver

1. The childhood-friends-to-lovers tension has years of history behind it. Jasper and Sloane already know each other deeply, making every romantic shift feel more emotionally significant.
2. Jasper is more than the famous hockey player everyone sees. Sloane knows the vulnerable person beneath the public image, giving their relationship unusual intimacy.
3. The runaway-bride setup creates immediate emotional stakes. Sloane’s wedding-day crisis forces her to confront whether she has been living according to her own choices or everyone else’s expectations.
4. The road trip delivers perfect forced proximity. Removing Jasper and Sloane from their normal lives gives years of hidden attraction nowhere left to hide.
5. The romance is balanced with emotional healing. Both characters have issues that cannot be solved simply by physical attraction, making the relationship more than a light fling.
6. The Chestnut Springs world adds found-family warmth. Readers of the earlier books get familiar characters and connections while Jasper and Sloane remain the central focus.
7. It blends several favorite romance tropes in one story. Friends to lovers, unrequited love, sports romance, runaway bride, forced proximity, road trip and small-town romance all come together in one emotionally charged installment.

Why Read Powerless by Elsie Silver?

Powerless by Elsie Silver is an excellent choice for readers interested in Elsie Silver, Chestnut Springs, friends-to-lovers romance, hockey romance, small-town romance, sports romance, runaway-bride stories, forced proximity, road-trip romance, secret love, emotional healing and interconnected romance series.

It is particularly well suited to readers who enjoy a romance where the characters already have a strong emotional connection before the first kiss.

Jasper and Sloane are not trying to determine whether they care about each other.

They already do.

The real question is whether they are brave enough to risk changing what that love means.

Who Should Read This Book?

Powerless by Elsie Silver may especially appeal to adult romance readers, Chestnut Springs fans, sports-romance readers, fans of childhood friends-to-lovers, readers who enjoy protective heroes, readers who like emotionally wounded characters, fans of interconnected small-town series and anyone who loves romantic stories where years of hidden feelings finally become impossible to ignore.

Powerless by Elsie Silver – When Your Best Friend Has Always Been the One

Powerless by Elsie Silver begins with two people who already know almost everything about each other.

That sounds like it should make love easier.

Instead, it makes everything more dangerous.

A stranger can leave.

A casual relationship can end.

But what happens if the person you risk losing is also your oldest friend?

Sloane has spent years loving Jasper quietly.

She has learned how to stand beside him without asking him to become something more.

Eventually, she attempts to create another life.

Another future.

Another marriage.

Then that future collapses.

And when Sloane needs someone, Jasper is there.

Of course he is.

He has always been there.

The road trip that follows removes many of the barriers that allowed them to keep pretending.

There is no crowd around Jasper.

No wedding plan around Sloane.

No easy place to hide.

Only two people who have spent years saying less than they feel.

But Powerless by Elsie Silver is not simply about finally admitting attraction.

Sloane needs a life that feels like her own.

Jasper needs to stop allowing old pain to decide what he believes he deserves.

They both need to understand that loving someone does not mean controlling them, fixing them or protecting them from every difficult truth.

Sometimes love means creating enough safety for someone to become more fully themselves.

That is why Jasper and Sloane’s story works.

Their romance is not built from a dramatic first meeting.

It is built from years.

Years of friendship.

Years of trust.

Years of suppressed feelings.

And finally, one moment when neither of them can continue pretending friendship is the whole story.

For readers who enjoy emotional friends-to-lovers romance, professional hockey, forced proximity, road trips, found family and steamy small-town love stories, Powerless by Elsie Silver is a memorable third installment in the Chestnut Springs series.

Learn more about Powerless by Elsie Silver on the official Elsie Silver website.

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