Flawless (Chestnut Springs, 1) Paperback – August 29, 2023

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Overall, this was such a beautiful love story!In the first 30% of this book I was really worried I was going to get bored because I didn’t really care for Rhett Eaton (physical description or personality) and Summer held my attention way more. Summer turns out to be such an interesting character as we get more pieces of her backstory. Even though I wasn’t feeling Rhett, their “enemies” phase was still pretty entertaining.As soon as we learn that Summer’s heater isn’t working in her hotel room, I might’ve literally popped some popcorn because I just knew things were about to get good.At about halfway, the tension peaks and Rhett goes all “cave man” on her when he see her wearing another man’s cowboy hat and we finally get some spice! The mouth on Rhett Eaton is 🔥🥵.The last 20% of this story had some touching moments between Rhett and Theo, Summer and Rhett, Summer and Kip and Rhett and Cade. I’m easily brought to tears but I didn’t even realize I was crying when Cade and Rhett were talking. (I’m SO excited for Cade’s story.) I also just get emotional reading about loving father and daughter relationships because I miss being able to talk with my dad. (PSA to always hug your parents.🫶🏼)I haven’t read a lot of small town or cowboy romances so this felt like a whole new world to me. I really enjoyed Elsie’s writing and think that she does the tension build up and spicy scenes really well. She definitely knows how to make me fall in love with a bull rider I never thought I would like.

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.💜

4.5⭐️ Cowboy romance & Grumpy Sunshine?… SIGN ME up! New-to-me author and I enjoyed this read. Both Summer and Rhett had personal insecurities they had to overcome. Summer is assigned to ‘babysit’ Rhett after a PR nightmare occurs and Rhett isn’t too fond of having a babysitter but if he wants to save his career/endorsements then he has no choice but to play by the rules. The miscommunication trope will forever be my least favorite….especially when it’s with adults! The yearning between Summer and Rhett was phenomenal… Rhett finally was able to know what it felt like for someone to show up for him and Summer was finally able to feel wanted!

I really enjoyed this one considering it wasn’t a trope I prefer and the MMC initially was not my cup of tea. But that goes to show how great the author is because she weaves a realistic story with beautifully flawed characters that just harmonize. In the end they seemed so meant to be and I love how they got there.