Hopeless (Chestnut Springs, 5)

Beau broke my heart in all the best ways. I’m always a sucker for a fake dating/fake engagement setup and Silver nailed it. The slow burn between Beau and Bailey was tender, emotional and so incredibly sweet. Jason Clarke brought the broody, broken cowboy energy and Angelina Rocca was the perfect Bailey. Their performances had me fully invested from the first minute. A must-listen for Chestnut Springs fans!

I'm sad to see this series come to a close, but this was a fitting conclusion! It wrapped everything up in a nice little bow, and the love story at the heart of it was both sexy and sentimental. Like everyone else, I've been waiting for Beau's story for a long time, and this was (mostly) what I wanted for him. It was easy to see the sparks between Beau and Bailey, and the chemistry continued to crackle the whole way through. It's what I would consider a hot slow burn, with a ton of sexual tension before they truly crossed the line. Probably too much focus on the sexual side of things, honestly. I couldn't quite bring myself to rate it 5 stars because I felt like it only scratched the surface of Beau's backstory while being oversaturated with sexually-charged moments. I wasn't as emotionally connected to them as a couple as I would've liked, but the story is excellent otherwise. Silver is such a great writer, so this was still head and shoulders above a lot of the books out there, and I'm eagerly awaiting the start of a brand new series. The story follows Beau (35), a former solider whose last experience overseas has left him with emotional and physical scars. Grappling with PTSD and feeling a little lost, Beau is spending more time at the local bar than he ever has before. That's where he connects with Bailey (22), the bartender. Though Beau has been familiar with Bailey for years, it's the first time he's ever spent any real time with her. Everyone in town knows that Bailey's family is trouble, and they treat her like she is too - even though she's never done anything to deserve it. Hoping to change the town's opinion of Bailey and make his family worry about him less, Beau suggests an unusual arrangement. Bailey will become his fake fiancée, and it should bring them both a little peace. But spending time with the woman Bailey has become is an unexpected breath of fresh air. As the two navigate their ever-changing relationship, they form a new future for themselves. I LOVED the first two books in this series, and this story reminded me why. Both Beau and Bailey have gone through a lot, so watching them slowly heal together was pretty great. I loved that Beau gave Bailey strength when she needed it, but she does the same for him as well. She lifts him out of a dark place, and I really loved where their relationship ended up. They also had some fantastic chemistry, which jumped off the page right away. I liked the way Bailey was so brash and confident in some aspects but insecure in others. I was okay with the age gap for the most part, I just wish it hadn't been such a constant topic of conversation, like Bailey's inexperience. A stronger focus on Beau's story would've been appreciated, especially since we've been waiting for so long. It feels like I still know barely anything about his history, just the man he is with Bailey. I loved that they were in such a bubble for so much of the book, but maybe a few less conversations about sex and a few more about life were needed, lol. Beyond that, I really enjoyed this overall. There were just enough appearances by the other characters to make it a well-rounded conclusion to the series, and now I cannot wait for the next one. Audio note: It was excellent! Jason Clarke is one of my personal favorites, so I have nothing but good things to say about his performance. His voice also fit Beau's mood and personality so well, and he brings the heat in the spicy scenes - which were plentiful. Definitely not a book to listen to at the office. Though it's technically a slow burn, it sure didn't feel that way. This is my first experience with Angelina Rocca, and I liked her voice for the most part. Maybe not my absolute favorite, but pretty good for sure. The runtime (about 11 hours) was too much for me to get through in a single day, but not overwhelming. The whole series is outstanding on audio, and this was no exception. Absolutely recommended in the format.

This is a bittersweet moment for me. I have fallen in love hard with the Eaton clan and this is the final story, and what a finale it is. Elsie Silver certainly ended the fantastic Chestnut Springs series with one hell of a bang. From the start, I knew Beau’s story would be the one that broke me—and it was, when I needed tissues at about 20%. Hopeless is all encompassing, and Elsie truly hits on all cylinders. This book deserves every one of those stars. Beau and Bailey’s journey hit me with an emotional punch that I felt to my very core. They made me laugh, swoon and cry in equal measure. They both had to overcome a lot and heal in the process. I loved how they brought out the best in each other and the growth they both went through. Their chemistry was electric and their connection was so powerful. The charge between these two is irrefutable, and every encounter is sigh-inducing. I couldn’t ask for these characters to have been more perfectly crafted. They’re authentic and complex, messy and vulnerable yet strong and determined, and so damn relatable. I felt every emotion of their journey alongside them. I can't even express the amount of adoration I have for these two. There were moments of devastation and sadness, but also heartwarming times that brought pure joy. Elsie managed to balance all of the emotions this book contains and provide the best reading experience. The Chestnut Springs series goes to the top of my list of best series ever. It's like the end of an era, reading this final book, but I’ll gladly return to these characters and their stories, once again submerging myself in the emotional ebb and flow of this glorious book world. If there is a formula for penning an exceptional novel, Elsie has not only mastered it but improved on it. I was captivated from the very first page, devouring every word and reading straight through in one sitting because it was absolutely, undeniably impossible to put down. Thrilled with the hours spent with these amazing characters but devastated to reach the end. Beau and Bailey’s story is the consummate cherry on top of this exquisite treat, one that I want to immerse myself in and stay in forever. Elsie Silver gave us something truly special with this family and their love stories, and I’m beyond sad to see this series end. But I also know that what Elsie crafts next will be just as extraordinary as these stories were. An ending like this is certainly bittersweet, but honestly couldn’t have looked any better.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Book Evaluation: Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎 Cover:📔📔📔📔📔 Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻 Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️ Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒 Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂 Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖 Ending:🧧🧧🧧 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨ First Impressions Hopeless is a book that I had such high hopes for and I really had some high expectations on this one especially coming off of Reckless which was only released a couple of months ago. I wish that I could say that I loved this book unfortunately it didn't quite meet up with my expectations. It was a bit disappointing. It did feel very rushed and not enough flow with the story and the tropes. And was really hard to stay invested. However, it had its moments that kept me reading it. And for those that want Beau's book, then I highly recommend it. First Line I thought pissing my brother off and storming away would make me feel something. The Main Protagonists The Hero: Beau Eaton A tortured military Vet, injuries both inside and outside, and a bit of a surly grump caught up in the terrors of his past The Heroine: Bailey Jenson High spirited outcast of the town. Despirate for a fresh start. Summary Beau Eaton is the town hero, he is much revered by the whole town and everyone wants to befriend him. The problem is...Beau couldn't care less. He is suffering wounds from serving in the military and is haunted by those demons that no one seems to understand including his own family. Then we have Bailey, who is a Jensen. Her family is consider the outcasts of the town, and unfortunately her family has earned their bad name and Bailey is a innocent bystander from it and the town does blame her and won't give her a solid chance to prove that she is different from them. Beau and Bailey have a very quick connection and Beau proposes that they have a fake engagement so that his name can bring her what she needs...that clean slate and it will help get his family off of his back. But both Beau and Bailey have a fierce attraction to each other and a connection that they both want to explore ....will they be able to make a true engagement work or will it fail... What I Loved Despite my issues with the story itself, there are many factors in the story that I really did enjoy. The first is that I had a blast with the connection at times that we see from Beau and Bailey. Especially in the first half of the story, I was really behind these two being together. They have such a easy way of being together and seeing the way in which they get along was almost infectious. Their in the middle of the night meet ups in the river were so delicious and the chemistry between them was done just right. Their dialogue with each other was easy going and they stand up to each other and know when to back down and when not to. The family bantering was just delightful and enjoyed how welcoming they were of Bailey. Beau is so tortured and his journey was beautiful and the way in which we see how protective he is of Bailey, melted my heart completely. What I Struggled With The pacing in this book is really off and most especially in the second half it just didn't quite deliver. It got to the point where I just wanted to get to the end, I just became bored with the couple and there seemed to be such a rush for the ending. It really felt like the author was writing to just finish this off and not really dig into the issues and explore it as she has done in the previou books. And some of the snark comments from the heroine was a bit off putting and didn't quite mesh right. Not sure why authors seem to want a snarky heroine in every book these days, but Bailey's dialogue could have been handled much more delicately to bring out her character to be more likeable. Overall View Hopeless had a easy romance that is fun to get behind....some fantastic tropes and has a small town setting that will endear the reader to this world... Book Details (also in my shelves) Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance Character Types: Military, Abused, Tortured Themes: Small Town, Family Saga, Lots of Laughs, PTSD Tropes: Fake Relationship, Grumpy Sunshine, May to December, Opposites Attract Book Perspective DUO Pov Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict Relationship Conflict Song This Book Inspires Hold My Girl by George Ezra Recommendation For Reading Order You can read as standalones

🤍 Fake Engagement ♥️ Ex Military 🤍 Small Town Romance ♥️ Age Gap 🤍 Slow Burn ♥️ Virginia FMC 🤍 Girl from wrong side of tracks ♥️ Check TW 🗺 Plot: 4.5/5 🌎 World Building: 4/5 📔 Cover: 5/5 💁🏻‍♂️ MMC, Beau: 4/5 💁‍♀️ FMC, Bailey: 5/5 🌶 Spice: 2.5/5 ♥️ Pulls at heart strings: 4/5 📄 Page Turner: 4/5 🫣 Angst: 3/5 🤍🖤 Dark: 1/5 🔚 Ending: 4/5 ⚠️ Triggers: 3/5 🥰 Overall view: 4/5 🫶🏼 HEA: Yes ✖️ Multiple POVs: Yes 🤥 Cheating: No 🎭 OW/OM Drama: No This is NOT my first book by this author. Summary 🗣 Beau is Chestnut Spring royalty and everyone in this small town adores his family however, Beau has a troubled past. He came back from Afghanistan a different man but he doesn't want anyone to know this new version of himself so he is stuck between who he is and who his family remembers who he was until he takes a deeper look at the girl that the town thinks of is trailer trash. For Bailey she sees Chestnut Springs as a place where no one is kind to her and everyone judges her on how her Dad and brothers are. She cannot get out of their shadows until Beau purposes.....well fake purposes in order to help her reputation in getting a better job and this is where our story begins.... My Thoughts 💭 Slow burns usually are not my thing, I am more of a medium burn type reader these days but I also love a good slow burn and this one is a good one. You don't seem to realize how deep Bailey's problems with the town are which just is heartbreaking 💔 but then you realize how broken Beau is and how truly wonderful of a couple they make. The nice thing about slow burns is it's like unwrapping your Christmas present very slowly so you can savor it. I think the author did a very good job with character development and world building in this book. I know this is the last book in the series and it was nice to see all of the other characters and how their worlds all grew. Bailey absolutely broke my heart and humbled you all in one book. She had so much she had never experienced that so many people take for granted. Love. That simple thing that everyone should have, she didn't yet she was always the better person in any situation where she could have easily been mean. That automatically gave her a 4⭐️ in my book but when she stood up for herself...that right there earned her the coveted 5⭐️ spot in my book. And FMC can be strong but quiet and nice. Plus the awkward questions she was always asking Beau was just the icing on top of the cupcake. I think this was a fabulous story and I cannot wait to read more from Chestnut Springs as my mood allows.

A fake dating / fake engagement/ marriage of convenience masterpiece 🫶 I loved everything and anything about this book. This whole series has been incredible but I think I can honestly say, Beau and Bailey take the number 1 spot for me. There’s just something about them and their story, I was captivated from the beginning. I adored the thoughtfulness in Beau and Bailey’s gestures / acts of service. Sitting at her bar with her until close, sleeping on the riverbank with her, moving her camper, standing up for her, sewing Peaches, being the reason she was able to keep her job even before they were together. Taking him shopping for shoes that were comfortable for him, researching socks, serving him tea to help with his sleep, rubbing lotion on his feet, taking him swimming at 2am. The praise Beau gives is also so endearing. Gives all the warm and fuzzies. Him constantly calling Bailey perfect and reassuring her when no one has ever done that for her before. 🥲 Baileys character feels so relatable. The quirky things she says. How real she feels with her struggles. She doesn’t feel like she’s enough or wanted and has so many internal struggles that she tries to not let show, to appear strong. I related to that and admired her strength and attitude. Also let me just say Elsie made us WORK for the spice, although it’s filled with angst and little moments here and there, but honestly I loved the journey so much it didn’t even bother me like it normally might. I’m not always a slow burn girlie, it has to be done impeccably for me to enjoy it. And this was the best 🫶 Lastly, I loved the parts that previous characters played in this book. Willa standing up for Bailey in the coffee shop was perfection. And I LOVED the final chapter with all of the family together. Just love love love!

I LOVED this book! I’m so sad this series is over because it completely pulled me in. The humor, the emotional depth, and the relationships made it an unforgettable read. Elsie Silver knows how to write characters that feel real, and this one had me laughing, swooning, and tearing up. What I Liked: • 💕 Strong female friendships that felt authentic • 🔥 The plot twist with him owning the bar—totally unexpected! • 😂 The humor and witty banter had me laughing out loud • ❤️ The emotional depth and family connections What Didn’t Work: (Not much! I was obsessed with this one!) Final Thoughts: This book reinforced the theme that family is everything. The strong female characters stood out, and I loved how they supported each other while also taming these tough men. Summer was especially sweet to Bailey, making her feel welcomed, and Willa was an absolute force! Who Would I Recommend To? • 📖 Romance lovers who adore small-town settings • 💞 Fans of strong female friendships • 🎢 Readers who enjoy emotional and heartfelt stories with twists

I am so sad to see the Chestnut Springs series end and to have to say goodbye, but it was amazing. First of all, let me just say as a veteran myself with wounds and scars and mental struggles, I felt that Elsie Silver really did such a good job capturing what this is like and how it feels. We saw Beau struggle but it didn't feel fake or just fiction. It felt very real, especially the aspects reagrding him transitioning back into civilian society and how Bailey treated him and the injuries to his feet. His trauma was discussed and addressed but it wasn't the main focus and didn't take a dark turn, so I appreciated that. I think military representation can be hard to nail in a book, especially when talking about combat and PTSD, but Elsie Silver did Beau justice. I loved seeing all of the Eatons and Jasper, and all of the wonderful ladies. It felt like family and I just wanted to be around that dinner table as they ate, told jokes, laughed, stirred up drama and more. Harvey is so funny and his no filter ways make me laugh so hard. He needs his own book! Although I was happy that he got a happy ending. One thing I'd like to point out: there is a significant age gap between Beau and Bailey (13 years) and he has experience while she does not when it comes to sex. She is a virgin and there were several times where I was cringing because you could TELL she was. She was discussing porn left and right like she was a teenage boy, she talked nonstop about sex, and I just felt like she came across as immature and this really infantilized her. It got MUCH better once she and Beau started hooking up and made things official and fell in love, but it was just a lot to stomach while it was going on. I do love Beau and Bailey together though! I really am so sad to see this series end, but I can't wait for what's next from Elsie Silver!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely loved this book, far more than I expected given its mixed reception. Beau Eaton’s journey as a brooding military man with emotional baggage was compelling, especially as he grew by supporting Bailey. And Bailey was a charming FMC with a relatable backstory. I appreciated the story's message about growth and embracing change. Their chemistry and the fake fiancé dynamic hooked me from the start, such a satisfying read!

📖Book Review📖 Book Title: Hopeless Author: Elsie Silver Series: Chestnut Springs #5 Star Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Steam Rating:🔥🔥🔥 I’m so sad that is now officially over 😢 This series has a special place in my heart and Beaus book was the best ending. I’m glad I reread the first 4 books because there were so many little moments of Beau and Bailey that I forgot about. And it was wonderful to see how much they grown throughout the series. As soon as I found out it was going to be a fake engagement, I knew it was going to so good! And it did not disappoint! I literally read this in one sitting! Could not put it down! I loved Bailey! She’s a total firecracker with a heart of gold, if you loved Willa you’ll definitely love Bailey! My heart hurt so much for her at the way the town has treated her just because of her last name but when Beau really comes into the picture he makes it his mission to prove to her how amazing she really is. Beau, what can I say, I loved him so much! I knew there was more to him than just being the loveable goof. That man has so much bottled up from his time in the military that it was all starting to come out in not so great ways, but he Bailey immediately stepped in to help him cope was just beautiful. I just loved the way they each had each other’s backs. And even though it was meant to be fake, there was no denying the steaming chemistry between them! They were such a slow burn that had me frothing!🥵 I mean the bathtub scene only had me blushing. I loved how protective Beau was of Bailey, and how supportive Bailey was of Beau. They were such a great match. They really brought the best out in each other and lifted each other up. All in all this was a fantastic ending to a fabulous series! I loved that we got to see everyone again, especially Harvey god I love that man 😂

Can’t get enough of beau-Bailey. Elsie Silver is a fantastic writer and she proves it again with this book. Sad that the series came to an end. Never getting over the Eaton family ♥️♥️♥️

Lol I can’t believed I got a clean book from Amazon sa. Story wise, it’s good but disappointing for the final book we were rooting for Beau story. The FMC is corny with h most the time and the whole 2:11 was lazy choice of time, felt like the author wanted some link to 9:11 yikes.

Love it