Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I was introduced to the Chestnut Springs series by a friend a few months ago. I sat down with the first book, Flawless, and could not put it down. So when I saw the opportunity to jump back into Chestnut Springs, I took it. And to get to read Jasper's story, bring it! I want to know all about all the men and women of Chestnut Springs!
Can you read this book without reading the first or second? Sure. Do you want to, probably not. Those books will give you good background on the supporting characters in this book. But story wise, you'll be fine if you decide to jump into getting to know this hot hockey players and his childhood prima ballerina friend.
It was so much fun, and a little sad, getting to know Jasper. He's been hurt and broken. Left stranded by his family after the tragic loss of his little sister, he finds a new family with the Eatons. But Jasper carries so much baggage. He doesn't know how to open up. He keeps things locked down and stays in his head for much of the book. He doesn't know how to let people in, let them love him. But Sloan knows. She knows she's loved him since she first laid eyes on him. She just never thought those feelings might possibly be reciprocated. But Sloan has been groomed to be the perfect little daughter, the perfect little wife. Always doing things for others and never for herself. During the course of the book she learns to break free, to be herself, and to help Jasper find himself, as well.
The book is character heavy. There's a good amount of plot. Jasper and his hockey career. Jasper losing it when his "brother" goes missing. Sloane figuring out she was used as a pawn when her father arranges for her to marry a man who treats her like crap. Sloane learning her father is not the man she's put up on a pedestal her whole life. Silver manages to weave the plot line in while still keeping the focus on the main characters and their growth. It was fantastic watching them change. And it was fun watching Silver weave in characters from Flawless and Heartless, as well. I loved seeing my old friends! And the pacing is spot on. I started and finished this one in just about 24 hours.
I truly cannot wait to read the next book in this series. The way I'm feeling now about Chestnut Springs, I never want leave it!