Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2) (2024)

when i say i hate men… never ever do i mean this lovely man right here. i’d run through a f*cking wall to get to cade eaton🫠

cade really puts the EAT in Eaton cuz tell me why Cade was EATon my ass through these pages?! there’s something so real and poetic about the grumpy, scowling, quite, lonely single father and the witty, loud, carefree woman. that dynamic will always be famous, mark my words 🫣

this book has rotted my brain levels never seen before. Willa was a shot of espresso. i wanna emphasize my gratitude towards her descriptions of Cades body, physique, mannerisms, and outfits throughout this book. she is me and i am her. i am no better than a man with the thoughts i had running through my head in those romantic moments. her relationship with Luke was so mfing cute. i love that fictional kid to pieces. the way Cade crumbles in her presence should be studied. i wanna hear him whimper 😪

a man has enough money and brains to let me live whatever wild ass career dreams i want while giving me babies on a nice ass ranch? willa mighta had the right idea with skippin panties under those dresses, just sayin.

➸ 3.75 stars

“and i realise in that moment maybe i am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it."

when willa said “i’m in my cowboy era” yeehaw, me too!! 🤠

i picked this book up when it first came out but dnfd it half way through because i wasn’t really feeling it but i’m so glad i picked it back up because i did enjoy it more the second time around!! maybe i am a sucker for a single dad romance after all.

➳ cade eaton:
a single dad who had to step up at a young age and take care of his family and run the family farm since his dad fell apart after his mother’s death. the way he was a goner for willa from the very start. i loved his grumpy and broody exterior but he’s a major softie at heart for his girl and his kid and he is fiercely protective. i loved that we got to see both of those sides of him. a couple things that did put me off tho was his inner thoughts about willa.. it was giving a prepubescent teen boy. why was this man thinking with his dick majority of the book 😭 like i don’t need to know that ur dick is getting hard whenever willa walks in the room. like he constantly says she’s young (she’s a grown 25 year old woman btw) but you’re literally horny for her 24/7.. make it make sense. like he was constantly sexualising willa, like we get it she’s young and hot. i did enjoy seeing his development from the start to the end and that he finally opened his heart up to love again after being hurt and that he showed his vulnerable side. and his dirty mouth?? had me going absolutely feral 🥵

➳ willa grant:
「“save a horse, ride a cowboy.” 」

when her show horse is injured and her brother closes the bar for renovations where she works at, willa finds herself with a free summer. willa is constantly taking up new things which makes her feel lost in life, she needs something to help ground her and lead her in the right direction, enter luke and cade. cade needs a nanny for the summer and her best friend summer asks her if she will nanny for her soon to be brother-in-law’s son and she is in. as a city girl through and through and who also loves boozy brunches with my girls, willa was easy to connect with. i loved how she never failed to put cade in his place. the bond she shared with luke was just so heartwarming to witness, it was no doubt my favourite aspect of this book. the pool party scene (iykyk) truly iconic and was very much justifiable!! she should’ve thrown hands with that kid’s mother too. i love that willa takes no sh*t from anyone and that she lives life carefree and that she just wore her heart on her sleeve. she’s a total firecracker, completely unhinged and incredibly loyal and i loved her for that.

“you are pretty fun. he worships the ground you walk on.”
“as all men should.”

some minor issues i had:

the overuse phrases!! like we got it the first 20 times cade is always “scowling” and willa “rolled her lips” pls stop 😭

i wish we got to see more of cade’s relationship with his son but he was way too busy being fixated and horny for the nanny lmaooo.

even though this was a slow burn it relied heavily on insta-lust. there was an instant infatuation and desire between them from the get-go. literally right from the very start when he saw her at the cafe and didn’t know who she was, he was getting all horny for her and her curves. i would’ve also liked to see more of how willa and cade’s connection developed. it was only about them having sex after they finally got together ugh. i literally got the ick when they done it at luke’s 6th birthday party because he could’ve literally walked in on them.

i did find the writing to be pretty cringe at times like:
murder me with your dick, please, sir.
my kitty is too sore from riding your massive pole.

ANOTHER ICKKKK. how do you write that with a straight face.

— overall, this was a fun read. although i had some minor issues, they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment — but tbh, i do feel like i’m being a little generous with my rating bc i was contemplating rating it 3 stars 🫣 anyway, let me go eat the rest of this series up!!

「 chestnut springs series 」
#1 Flawless — 2.5 stars
#2 Heartless — 3.75 stars
#3 Powerless — 3 stars
#4 Reckless — 4.25 stars
#5 Hopeless — 1.25 stars

───♡─────────────

aaa this was such a fun read. i definitely enjoyed this one sm more the second time around!! rtc
—
re-entering my cowboy era 🤠

Obsessed with this book and Cade & Willa. We've got SO MANY great tropes: single parent, small town, & grumpy x sunshine. Plus cowboys and a gorgeous ranch setting!

I think Willa and Cade are my perfect romance book characters. Willa is sweet but also feisty and speaks her mind. Cade is grumpy, initially closed off, and rough around the edges, but once you break those walls down, he is insanely sweet and thoughtful. One of my favorite things about the single-parent trope (outside of cute kiddos) is that we instantly know the single parent is kind, caring, and responsible. So even while Cade was being grumpy, we see his sweet side with his son from the beginning.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Round of applause for Elsie Silver👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series!!

give me an age-gap, single parent, grumpy-sunshine, small-town romance with an adorable 5 yr old kid and my heart is wide open

↠ Willa (h) & Cade (H) meet-cute was interesting to say the least when her panties dropped out of her purse and Cade picked them up for her. It only got better when Cade realized that he picked up his son’s nanny lingerie up. 💀

“Willa.” Cade says my name like it’s a demand. “You need to wear proper undergarments while you’re at work. You can’t be dropping them out of your purse around a child.”
I plaster on the sweetest smile I can muster and turn to look back over my shoulder. “I’ll be ready for your inspection tomorrow, boss.”

“Beg.”
“Pardon me?”
“You heard me.” Her lips don’t even twitch. She’s not joking at all. “Beg.”

Cade: Willa, I’m working. If everything is okay, we don’t need to chat.
Willa: I put my panties on.
Willa: Are you ignoring me?
Willa: I figured you’d be proud. Day one and I’m knocking all the rules right out of the park.
Cade: If I pay you more, will you stop texting me about this?
Willa: Probably not. I don’t need the money. I’m just easily bored, and poking the bear is fun.

Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.

“Keep talking like that and I’m going to f*ck the filth right out of your pretty mouth.”
I arch a brow at him as goose bumps break out over my body. The air between us sizzles. “Excuse me?”
He swipes the back of his hand over his mouth, like he’s pulling away the filter that’s been there all along. “You heard me, Red. You keep barking at me like that and I’m going to put you on your knees, open those strawberry lips, and f*ck your face just to shut you up.”

“Red, don’t marry a man who rolls his eyes at you.” “You roll your eyes at me all the time.” f*ck, I need to stop doing that. She deserves better. “Don’t marry me either.”

“Willa!” Luke’s quickly forgotten guitar rests on the step as he tears across the front lawn toward me. “I’m so glad you’re back!”

Heartless has only proven once again why the single-parent trope is and will always be a smash for me. That trope has never disappointed me so far. I didn’t like the first book in this series that much, but after knowing the trope of Heartless and getting to know Cade and Willa a bit in Flawless and seeing how they were complete opposite and I KNEW they were going to be my favorite couple in this series.

Comment to add after just finishing the bonus epilogue for Heartless: omg I love Cade, Willa, Emma and Luke all so much. my family, my heart. why are they so wholesome. Everybody go read this book now! 😩

┍━━━━━━━━»•» «•«━┑
CHESTNUT SPRINGS SERIES

#1 Flawless – 2.75 stars (Rhett x Summer)
#2 Heartless – 4 stars (Cade x Willa)
#3 Powerless – 2 stars (Jasper x Sloane)
#4 Reckless – 3.75 stars (Theo x Winter)
┕━»•» «•«━━━━━━━━┙

immediately googling "cowboys in need of nanny" i have no qualifications but i'm up to the task 🤠

The word panties is probably mentioned on every page at least 2 times. I hate the panties talk.

4.5 Stars ☆

"And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it."

I am definitely in my cowboy era and don't plan on leaving anytime soon. Well, at least until I finish this series. Chestnut Srings should be a real place because I want to go visit now.

Heartless is the second book in the Chestnut Springs series, and ya'll, it did not disappoint. This small town, age gap, single dad/nanny, cowboy romance hit the spot with its banter, sexual tension, and humor. This had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout. It has now easily become my favorite in the series so far.

Cade is a rancher who will be busy for the summer and is in need of a nanny for his son Luke. He has turned down all of the applicants as he didn't like them and is now desperate. When Summer suggests her friend Willa that has come to visit. Now, seeing that Willa is the woman that he had an awkward meet cute with at the local coffee shop earlier that day, but what other options does he have. It's when he sees Willa interact with his son that he decides to give her a chance.

Cade Eaton damn this man is a grumpy, protective, broken selfles caretaker that indeed is so much daddy. The man who is always responsible and serious has a dirty dirty mouth that I was eating up. The way that he is so soft and sweet with his son and Willa and helping her with overcoming her insecurities in the sweetest of ways had me in a swoon worthy trance.

“Thank you. Thank you for being the first person in my life to put me first, to give me options. I’m not sure I deserve that gift, but I know that I’ll never forget it for as long as I live.”

Willa Grant

“Beg.” “Pardon me?” “You heard me.” Her lips don’t even twitch. She’s not joking at all. “Beg.”

Luke Eaton

“Hey, Willa?”“Hey, Luke,” I reply dryly, since the be quiet part obviously didn’t register. “Sometimes I wish you were my mom.”

Cade and Willa

“You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?” I nod again because it’s all I can do. I want all that. With him. “You want me, Willa?”“Yes.” I cry out against the soft fabric, nodding frantically as he slams into me. I want him so badly it hurts. “Good. Because I’m sick of holding back with you. You’re not going anywhere. You belong here, with me.”

I found myself not being able to put this book down. It had me wanting more with every turn of the page. I also enjoyed Summer and Rhett so much more in this than their book. They had the best group text that I wanted so badly to join in on. The ending was just so sweet and wholesome. It makes me want to be a part of this big family.

Favorite quotes and moments

“Eaton. You grumpy motherf*cker. You just laughed,” I blurt. “Yeah, Red. I did.”

“Daddy Cade, you’re a whole lot prettier when you smile.”

"Willa might be a bit of a psycho— after all, she did just push a child into the pool— but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho."

“Keep talking like that and I’m going to f*ck the filth right out of your pretty mouth.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Red. You keep barking at me like that and I’m going to put you on your knees, open those strawberry lips, and f*ck your face just to shut you up.”

Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”

~~~~~~

Pre-review: It's time for the grumpy single dad cowboy, Cade 🤠 and to find out if he really is daddy 🤭🤭

I am obsessed with this book. I got lost in this book. There is nothing heartless about Cade Eaton. I mean, come on: "You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?" YES CADE SHE DOES. WE ALL DO. 🤠🖤🐮👨‍👩‍👦🦖🧑🏽‍🌾🌶️🥵

Cade and Willa's story is best described by Summer as follows: "It's two people who were both a little lost until they ended up on the same path and walked together for a while."

Ok, so. Basically next to the dictionary definition of "cowboy" there is just a picture of Cade Eaton. That's it. He is the literal ideal cowboy that you picture reading a western. He's also unproblematic. Drama free. DOESN'T F*CK ANYTHING UP with Willa! Just so solid and sturdy, though at first to a fault. Anyways, I don't even usually like books with the single-dad trope or the nanny trope. But this book??? Maybe it's just Cade and his batman-cowboy persona, or maybe its just how well-written this story is. It doesn't feel like you're reading some cheesy story about a dad and a nanny. Its deeper than that, more realistic. Willa is this fiery, free-spirited redhead who is sort of lost and doesn't know what she wants from life yet. She's never nannied or babysat in her life but agrees to help watch Cade's son Luke (who is simply the sweetest funniest little man ever) for the summer to pass the time. Cade is big and broody and jaded, hardheaded, stubborn, stuck in his ways, doesn't trust others and doesn't smile. Enter our spunky Willa girl and expect both of their worlds to catch on fire.

Flying through this series. I loooved this even more than the first one. I thought the spice was much better (something about Willa and Cade just felt really authentic and raw), the bantering was even more perfect, and if I hadn't already fallen in love with Chestnut Springs and Wishing Well Ranch I am now totally a goner. This book was so sweet and lovely. I don't necessarily need another book about Rhett and Summer, but I'd do terrible things for a sequel where we see more of just Luke and Willa and Cade living their happy ever after together. Hoping to get a little of that in the next two books. Anyways, Elsie Silver is SUCH a good writer and this book had zero flaws.

4.5 stars

RTC

- - -
It’s finally time to continue this series and get my yeehaw on 🤠🐎

4 Stars

This is my second book by Elsie Silver and I've been looking forward to its release ever since finishing book one.

Cade is my favorite kind of hero: enigmatic and kind of a dick. Add in an age gap and a marriage of convenience-ish-type scenario (live-in nanny)? Pfffffffft. The stuff dreams are made of, friends.

This was super cute, and I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see Elsie Silver becoming a go-to for sweet romance.

4.5 stars

“I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.”

Do you know what's the dangerous combination in this world? It's Cade Eaton's dirty mouth and Willa Grant's sassy mouth 🤌🏻❤️‍🔥

I’m officially and whole-heartedly in my country-boy era because they just do it better than any other fictional men. What the hell kind of crack did Elsie put in this book which made me devour it in just 2 days! This was the funniest, swooniest and the most sweetest and adorable book. I'm so in love with Cade, Willa and Luke and their sweet little wholesome family.

This is a comfort book with comforting main and side characters and wholesome Eaton family moments and I can read it over and over again. Heartless and Reckless are my absolute favourite of this series because Cade Eaton and Theo Silva supremacy 🧎‍♀️

I loved the story so much and it's wholesome because of Willa and Luke's precious adorable and chaotic moments. And it's sexy because Willa and Cade are just fire. They are everything. The pacing was a little slow in this but the whole storyline was constructed perfectly from the start to the most endearing ending. Even though the nanny and single dad is such a typical plot in small town romance genre Willa and Cade made everything about this book perfect with their top-notch banter and scorching chemistry.

From their first meet when she dropped her panties to the moment she asked him to beg her to stay. Everything about them was epic.

“You’ve had my attention since—”
I roll my eyes and wave a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. Since I dropped my panties at your feet.”
“No. Since I first heard you laugh.”
That shuts me up.
“In the coffee shop. I was standing behind you and couldn’t stop thinking about how incredible your laugh was. All f*cking light and warm. It made me want to laugh too.”

THE BEST THING IN THIS BOOK WAS FAMILY DYNAMICS. It was beautiful to see slowly and steady Willa became a part of Cade and Luke's small world. Willa and Luke were perfect and I wanna protect them and never let them go. The way she treated Luke is so so so endearing AND I SUPPORT WILLA THROWING BULLY KIDS IN THE POOL. She understood that kid and his father and gave them the love and comfort and the family they deserved. They all are so precious.

“Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”
His eyes light at that. “You did?”
I nod, pulling him close with an arm around his shoulders. “I did.”

Just get all my money and everything and give me what they have.

➸ Willa Grant

"If attitude were a person, she’d be it." Bartender turned a nanny for a hot single dad who is a rancher. She's carefree, funny, loyal and has a witty sense of humour with a very sassy mouth. She's such a badass but also a little insecure about her future and herself. This girl is a firecracker, a hurricane who melted all the walls Cade made around himself as a protection just by earning his trust and the girl who pushed a kid in the pool because he bullied Luke. I loved her from the very first chapter and the urge to leave everything behind and be Willa Grant is so strong right now.

“Willa might be a bit of psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.”

➸ Cade Eaton

A hot cowboy, rancher and a single dad to a most adorable kid. He is grumpy and a little infuriating who doesn't know how to make jokes or even communicate sometimes but he is the most thoughtful, selfless and caring person I have ever seen. His actions speak louder than his words and the things he did for his family as the oldest child in his family because he needed to, as a single dad to Luke, and as a most amazing person Willa needed were everything. And we all know he is also known for his dirty dirty mouth which is a threat to my ovaries 🥵

“Daddy Cade, you’re a whole lot prettier when you smile.”

➸ Luke Eaton

The world's most adorable, funny and goofy kid who's always running and doing chaotic things. I freaking adore this boy so much and he deserves the best and he deserves Willa and everything happiness in this world. I'm glad he has Willa who loves him more than anything in this world.

╰┈➤ Cade and Willa

Cade and Willa are opposite of each other in every way. Willa is fire and Cade is ice, but there was always this undeniable electric chemistry and connection between them from the moment they met. No matter how much he tried to push her away or tried to hate chaotic Willa. He was always drawn to her and she is the only one who thawed his icy heart.

“What are you doing?” I grumble as I wipe at my watery eyes, no doubt smudged with mascara.
“Taking care of you,” he replies without even looking my way. His tone says that I just asked him a stupid question.
“That’s fine. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but you don’t have to because I’m here to help.”

Their forced proximity, the slow burn, and the push and pull relationship made the sexual tension between them palpable and hot and that hot tub scene was just chef's kiss. They both know what they wanted and they took it however they wanted. They are mother and father for real.

I quirk a brow in her direction. “You know the rule, Red?”
“You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.” She winks at me, looking f*cking adorable wearing my hat.

The way they both cared for each other and tried to be there for each other when needed. It was beautiful. Cade had trust issues due to his ex wife but Willa proved him that she is the one he needed. She is his comfort person and his little troublemaker. And Willa was insecure about herself but Cade made her feel like she is the most amazing and perfect and that she could be anyone she wanted and he'd still love her and will leave all the post-it notes for her for forever. They complement each other so well that I can never imagine one without the other one.

“You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?”
I nod again because it’s all I can do. I want all that. With him.
“You want me, Willa?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Because I’m sick of holding back with you. You’re not going anywhere. You belong here, with me.”

The ending ended with a very cute little surprise 🥺 there was a little drama in the end but it wasn't stretched for chapters and chapters and everything was just perfect, sweet and emotional. I can't wait to read more about them in next books.

“I’d do it for everything she’s given me in such a short time . . .
A love Luke has never known.
A reason for me to smile again.
A person to talk to after so many years of silence.
A love I’ve never known.”

Like he can read my mind, he leans over my back and grits out, “You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?”
I nod again because it’s all I can do. I want all that. With him.
“You want me, Willa?”
“Yes.” I want him so badly it hurts.
“Good. Because I’m sick of holding back with you. You’re not going anywhere. You belong here, with me.”

This book right here. THIS. FREAKING. BOOK. RIGHT HERE. Let me just...

Where is this Chestnut Springs? How far is it? When are we going? Who has directions? Anyone riding with me?

I am convinced I clearly live in the wrong city lol.

I was effortlessly pulled right back into book two - I mean, I've been eating this series up! It's been such a perfect read for me right now. It's light, fluffy, heartwarming and romantic. The spice is delicious, the angst is perfect and the chemistry is ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

The men are 🔥 and the women are sassy. The found family is mint, all of the side characters and the setting are so comforting and fun.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Let me just tell you though - if you have yet to meet Daddy Cade, do yourself a solid and get on it ASAP.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Ya'll this dirty mouth sexy mother f*cker with a heart of gold had me at page one! He is the perfect man. A 'bad', 'bad' man but an absolute cinnamon roll to his girl.

I love this small town, I love these characters. Elsie Silver is making such a quick and easy fan out of me.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Willa is amazing, smart mouth, strong, sassy and funny - ugh love her.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ And Luke. Omg, full stop. One of the cutest and funniest child characters I've read in a long time.

This is my favorite so far out of the series. I'm actually behind on reviews and currently almost finished with book 4.

I highly recommend if you're looking for something fun, romantic, full of angst and spice that is top tier to check them out. I've both read on my kindle and listened to the audios and the narrators are top notch! 🤌🏻💋

This particular one is Vanessa Edwin and Stephen Dexter. 🫦

╰┈➤ *⋆ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ⋆*

“Life lesson, sh*thead. Careful who you pick a fight with. Someone insane might love him.”

“Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.”

“And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.”

“Keep talking like that and I’m going to f*ck the filth right out of your pretty mouth.”

4.5 ⭐️ AHHHH WILLA AND CADE!!!!!! y’all this book had no business being SO FCKING FUNNY. imagine me cackling the whole time. and the spice 🥵🥵🥵

willa was sunshine but so upfront and confident. cade was grumpy but so caring. they were the perfect combo. i also adored luke!!! he added so much to the story. and of course i loved seeing rhett & summer, my babies <3 the found family that’s happening between everyone is exactly what i needed!!! i CANNOT WAIT for jasper’s book. and most importantly.. ✨beau’s book✨ my #1 man.

“it seems like the universe could have granted some sort of reprieve. but it granted me willa fcking grant.”

(3.5-ish)

Cade Eaton. lord have mercy, this brooding cowboy is scalding hot. i am hootin’ and hollerin’ and yeehawin’ over this man. 🤠

do i like the single dad trope?

i’ll be honest — there are some things about these stories and the writing that aren’t my favorite. but, above all, i am having so much FUN. Elsie Silver could write hundreds of these and i will eat them up like candy.

may my cowboy romance era never end.🤍

“And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it”

The amount of times this book made me look like a fool by blushing, laughing and swooning is wild lol this was my first single dad romance and it exceeded whatever expectations I thought I had. It was humorous, steamy, heartfelt and

4.5 stars

Willa & Cade were exceptionally the best and the soft moments besides the sexual innuendos/ witty banter between them delivered a pleasant and fun time (it’s safe to say they’ve won me over).

Willa felt like such

Now Cade.. the best grump yet such a charmer and so soft with Willa. The fact that he was communicative and supportive of Willa knowing how she is and what she needed had my support and vice versa. This man had such a filthy mouth and knew how to use it. I mean, you know that famous quote “save a horse, ride a cowboy?” Yeah, It was meant for him 🤠 now the build up to their relationship felt entirely entrancing & the tension here fueled me that I felt like I was drowning in it. This book was mostly all humor, horny moments paired with some soft moments to which worked for me. Anyways, certain scenes left plenty to the imagination and all I’ll say is daddy cade indeed lmao I think he’s my favorite Eaton brother without reading beau’s book and don’t ask me how I know—I just know it

As for Luke, I absolutely adored this kid and his relationship with Willa 🥹 their scenes warmed my heart and I loved how protective she was of him. Also, I quite liked Rhett and summer here and the text threads with everyone >>

I saw this as more than a “cowboy romance” given certain factors in the storyline with the characters internal fears— in particular Cades complex background and their mutual understanding of the needs of one another. It all ultimately by the end made this feel a little deeper which i liked and it was overall such an enjoyable time and i loved it. Down the rabbit hole i go now for more books like this so *consider that your sign to read this*

Flawless review

Quotes

“Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”

“Life lesson, sh*thead. Careful who you pick a fight with. Someone insane might love him.”

“It’s two people who were both a little lost until they ended up on the same path and walked together for a while.”

“It’s nice to see someone looking at Cade like that. Defending him like that,” Jasper says. “Like they can see him for who he is rather than the man circ*mstances forced him to become.”

“it seems like the universe could have granted some sort of reprieve. but it granted me willa fcking grant.”

“Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.”

“Daddy Cade, you’re a whole lot prettier when you smile.”

this was so f*cking hot omg I loved it

5 stars

I’ve read most of Elsie Silver’s books and I’ve enjoyed them all but THIS is the book! This one is by far my favorite book of hers and I’m positive it will be on my favorites list this year! Heartless had so much I love in a book. Single dad… check. Grumpy hero… check. Forced proximity… check. Age gap… check! I swear it’s like she wrote this one just for me!

Cade Eaton is in need of a nanny for his son, Luke, while he works on/runs the family farm all summer. He can’t find anyone so Summer has her best friend, Willa come to town and work the job for the summer. Cade is not excited about this. Willa is young, thirteen years younger than his 38 and does she even have experience with kids? Since Summer vouches for her, he gives her a chance but he is unsure.

Willa doesn’t have much experience with kids, but being with Luke all day and playing is too easy and fun. Their relationship (Luke and Willa) is completely heartwarming. I smiled so much seeing those two together. Seeing Luke and Willa together makes Cade come around a little quicker too.

Cade was burned by a woman and he’s just here to focus on his kid, work, and family. He doesn’t want a relationship but there is just something about Willa. A grumpy hero that is soft with his son and starts to thaw for his nanny… seriously you just can’t go wrong with this book. The sweetest scenes, the family stuff that I adored and the steam was top notch. I love Elsie Silver’s writing style and she killed it with this book.

This series is shaping up to be fantastic. I loved Rhett’s book, I loved Cade’s book, and soon enough (hopefully) we’ll get Jasper and Beau’s books and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m loving being in the ‘Chestnut Springs’ world and I never want to leave. Heartless was truly perfect for me- there wasn’t a thing I didn’t love. I’ll be recommending this one to everyone!

Oh man. This was amazing. I can’t even think right now because my brain feels fried. Which is a combination of how amazing this story was and the fact that I’m not used to staying up well into the early mornings to finish a book.

My brain is begging for sleep. But Cade and Willa and Luke… the cuteness, the wholesomeness of this story was uncalled for. 😪

I don’t even know if I want kids, but Luke!!!

Gosh, I miss these characters already! 😭

It was beautiful to see Cade soften towards Willa. This man has shouldered responsibility since before the age of 10 and it weighed his soul right down.
Willa has been used to more freedom in her life, is more of a free spirit and finds a sense of purpose and direction with Cade, his son and his family.

They complemented each other perfectly.

I’ve just started this series and I’m ready for a reread. The writing, this small town, the family, the characters, the humour, the emotions… everything about it has worked for me.

I don’t want this to ever end.

— 4.25 stars ☆

cade easton and his dirty mouth omg 😭 but the love story between luke and willa?? LIVES WERE CHANGED. willa and her sassy mouth mwah <3

Okay, this one was actually really good!!!😭 Willa was SO SO funny and do I need to say anything about Daddy Cane because he was emmm definitely something!! 👀( ps: adds more single dad tropes to her tbr!)

4.25 stars 🌟

------------------
Going to read this one after the disaster book one was for me!
But I'm positive this one is gonna make it up!!

And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.

3.5 stars

im somehow not convinced that elsie silver was able to write this AND flawless. i’m pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this.

when i said i wanted a empty brain and a stupid lil cowboy romance, this is what i meant!! the plot was actually interesting and had a little more to it, which i enjoyed somehow.

i don’t typically like kids in books but this was an exception! i loved the relationship btwn cade and his son and the growing bond btwn willa & cade’s son. it was pretty wholesome and would def recommend this book for anyone looking for something w no thinking required 😌

i will say all the horny inner monologue pissed me offff, like hello this man is 38 why is he acting like a 14 yr old boy who has never seen a pair of tit* before….

but i loved willa grant!! she was literally so slay, she had a backbone

she’s honestly the main reason why i’m giving this 3.5 stars because if it were any other fmc this would probably be a 2 star 🫣

did i have many complaints?

and a thank you to everyone who kept telling me this series got better bc if you guys would’ve lied to me i would’ve raged quit this app 😗

chestnut springs series rating: 3 stars
1. flawless ~ 2 stars
2. heartless ~ 3.5 stars
3. powerless ~ 4 stars
4. reckless ~ 4.5 stars
5. hopeless ~ 1 star

———
for everyone who told me this book was better than the first i’m trusting you, and if i hate it we will have some serious words 🤺

I didn't think I would ever be obsessed with a cowboy/rancher love story but here we are lol. This story had no flaws in my opinion, it was fun, entertaining, and romantic all in one! It follows two characters that seem to come from different worlds and it ends up being a love story full of heart. These are the type of characters you can't help but root for pretty much the entire way through. Definitely my favorite in the series so far, but I'm also so so excited to read the next one!

i am officially obsessed with this series and the eaton boys! heartless was even better than flawless, especially after reading the nanny last week, which has such a similar concept. it had some of my favourite tropes, without being cringy, and i love chestnut springs as the setting for this whole series!

willa and cade were so perfect for each other, and luke was such an adorable side character. sometimes kids can really be annoying in books, but he was so sweet! it was also so nice to see summer and rhett after their book, and the rest of the eaton family 🫶🏼 and omg the hot tub scenes 🤭

if you're looking for a fun and fast series, i can't recommend the chestnut springs series enough! all of the books are on kindle unlimited, and it takes place in canada, for any fellow canadian readers 🇨🇦 i am so excited to read book #3 and #4!

chestnut springs series ranking 🤠💘 overall series rating - 5 stars
#2 heartless: willa and cade's book - 4 stars
#1 flawless: summer and rhett's book - 3.5 stars
#4 reckless: winter and theo's book - 3.5 stars
#3 powerless: sloane and jasper's book - 3 stars

I cannot believe I had the privilege of beta reading this book for Elsie.

I feel truly privileged. You guys are NOT READY for this. It's a full on five stars. This book does not have a single flaw so I will keep it plain and simple.

It was 1 am in the morning and I was sweating. Sweat drops running down my spine and my forehead from how legitimately stressed and turned on I was.

This book is and WILL be the PINNACLE of Elsie Silver's career as a slow-burn romance author.

I haven't read tension built like this since Elizabeth O'Roark.

I had SWORN to myself I would never read a nanny-single dad romance because I was a nanny for years. Spent the entire week washing my mouth with soap.

I am embarrassed for myself for not giving this trope a chance before, but I also think it's a lot more than just the trope. It's what Elsie was able to achieve with it.

I described this reading experience as

me passing away, going to heaven, seeing god: Elsie was God. Dropping back down inside of a roller coaster in a 90 degree angle, only to fall into a WEED infused chocolate pool. Pretty sure I partied with a hot easter bunny afterwards.

I can't remember, I am too drunk on how f*cking good this book was still.

These characters were relatable, so down-to-earth, so unbelievably human. Reading about Cade Eaton is like looking in the mirror.

Out OCTOBER 14th

Hire me to beta read or edit your book / Follow me on instagram

DNF @ 75%

this book temporarily fixed my sleep schedule it was that boring and bland. plus i don’t think this author’s writing is for me, it’s just too forced and cringey and the romance never feels authentic

cade gave me major creepy vibes. i usually love a good age gap but the nanny single dad situation never fails to disgust me. the way he constantly focused on her “young tight little body” 🤢🤮 sickening

besides the little gremlin was annoying af and the love interest’s only personality was scowling. tf does an appreciative and happy scowl look like 🤨 id really like to know

this is why i don’t read single dad. ever

4.5 stars

I’ve never been into cowboys until I met those Eaton boys!!

Ahh I loved Cade and Willa so much! From their first unique meet cute, to how she literally made him beg from the very beginning, to how she didn’t put up with his moody almost rude behaviour and called him out on his attitude.

Their relationship was just so good! I loved their grumpy/sunshine dynamic and their banter so freakin much! They were just so perfect for each other. Luke Eaton is so precious!! I loved his relationship with Willa so much. I mean she literally pushed a child who bullied him into the pool. Like wow!! She’s psycho and just freakin amazing! Also how protective and a freakin great father Cade was with him was amazing.

I loved this family. All of it! Harvey Eaton is a hilarious dad and no wonder that all his kids are almost perfect! He raised his kids well!

#1 Flawless ~ 4 stars

CadeWilla pls adopt me 🥹🙏

***

Down I go…🤸🏻‍♀️🕳️

Cute and Tropey, but still Nanny/Single Dad 😭 😂

This was a cute and funny, small town, cowboy, age-gap, single dad, nanny trope. Cade was a grumpy, responsible 38 year old rancher. Sometimes he was more asshole than grump and seemed to hate all women. Enter Willa, a 25 year old, confident, takes no sh*t type woman. She immediately hits it off with Cade’s adorable son Luke and now Cade must behave himself, because this woman won’t let him treat her badly, she lays down the law and he is desperate for a nanny so he shapes up. I love a FMC that doesn’t take any crap from a grumpy hero and I love a MMC who respects her for it and changes his tune.
The beginning of this book was him being grumbly, and her being fun, but both of them being hot for each other and fighting it. Pretty standard for this trope. They dance around each other, he resists because he’s too old for her, she’s his nanny etc etc. until he stops resisting and then hoo doggie, things got really hot down at the ranch. I love it when a taciturn grouch turns into a dirty talking boss in the bedroom. And Cade had a filthy mouth and bossy ways. 🥵
But then the book got sweet & swoony, then some more hot, then sweet again. It led my heart on a roller coaster ride. But I liked this book a lot. It was a great, hot read. All the side characters were great as well, Harvey Eaton, the dad, was particularly hilarious.
I’d recommend this one, for sure, if you like an age-gap and a nanny/single dad trope.
But ultimately the ending did wind up with the FMC being free labour, because I doubt he kept paying her for her child care services after she married him and she didn’t hire her own nanny and decided to stay home. 🤷🏼‍♀️ One day a nanny trope will surprise me with the FMC not being knocked up and raising the MMC babies. See Willa was searching for what she wanted to do with her life and ended up pregnant by her boss and decided that was her dream. She just needed to be impregnated to figure it out. Ugh.

|| 3.5 stars ||

This was such an adorable, fun, heartwarming, and swoon-worthy romance! It’s about a grumpy single dad and the sunshiny firecracker he hires as a nanny for his five-year old son.

I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.

I’m honestly not sure where to start, because I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. First, I think I just want to point out how much I genuinely liked all of the characters.
Willa was such a fiery, passionate, carefree, fun, loyal, and witty woman I couldn’t help but adore in every way. She was the perfect combination of soft and fierce!
I needed a little longer to warm up to Cade, but I quickly fell for him as well. He was super crabby and ill-mannered, but I found it to be oddly charming.
And Luke… Well, Luke was just the cutest little boy on the planet, wasn’t he?

I need to pick my next words carefully so I don’t come off like a condescending asshole.
I know I often come across that way, and I don’t want to with Willa. It’s an unfamiliar feeling, wanting someone to like me.

The funny thing is, I just know that Cade could have been a very annoying character if he had been judgemental or condescending to Willa, but he was luckily never like that. He was so in awe of the happiness and lightness that always hung around her, and, even though he wore a permanent scowl on his face, he could never find it in his heart to be mean to her. He adored her so much, and it became insanely obvious in the way she was the only person in the world, other than his son, who could make him smile and feel genuine warmth.
He truly put her up on a pedestal and was scared she was way out of his league. He felt jealous and possessive of her, but never wanted to drag her down to his level. He genuinely thought the world of her, which is why I could never judge him for the scowls and grumpiness he gave her from time to time. That was just the way he was, and it made his gentle moments all the more sweet.

How hard would it be to smile more, to laugh more, if it made her look this happy?

It wasn’t just the romance that stole my heart in this book, though. I was also melting at the true love that developed between Cade’s son, Luke, and Willa. Not only was Luke the cutest little boy ever, it was also really obvious that he was craving a mother’s love so much. He was so enamoured with Willa’s free spirit and fondness for fun, and I could tell he fell in love with Willa just as quickly and just as deeply as his dad. Their bond was simply the best thing ever.

“Do you think . . .” He peers back up at me now. “Do you think it would be okay if I called you mom too?”

Nonetheless, despite, the many things I loved about this book, I do have to say that it lost me a little in the second half. The beginning had a lot of delicious pining and tension, whereas the book became a little more boring to me after they finally gave in and had sex for the first time. I was actually surprised at how long it took them to get to this point, so I do have to give the book credits for that, but when it did happen, the book lost a lot of its intensity for me. It was still really sweet and did make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but I wasn’t as engaged as I was before.

“See, Dad? I told you not to be sad. I told you she’d come back. Our wishes came true! She loves us too much to leave.”

All in all, I really thought this was a nice read. I especially enjoyed the way Cade’s grumpy scowling slowly and reluctantly melted away by Willa’s fiercely happy attitude, and I loved seeing their little family click together. It was very wholesome!