Hopeless
Chestnut Springs #5
By Elsie Silver
TheStory
Bailey, a small town girl with a bad family rep, makes a bet with the town hero, Beau, that results in a fake engagement. Beau wants his family off his back about his lack of relationship and Bailey needs some image PR, so what better way to solve both of their problems than with a fake relationship? But when a public relationship turns into time spent alone in private, the lines blur between fake and real.
Not only do the two have their public images to worry about, but they both have their own struggles and personal issues to deal with as well. Beau struggles to adjust to his life as a civilian after his time in the military. Bailey is trying to overcome the negative reputation she carries due to her family’s poor behavior. The real question is whether their fake engagement will actually fix the real problems or cause more of a disaster than either of them realize.
TheReview
*Can be read as a stand alone*
GAH! I was waiting for this one. *Sighs* It did not disappoint. After going MIA on his last mission, Beau is struggling to adjust and Bailey is just the person to bring him back to life. She gives him a sense of purpose, in a way.
Bailey gets some hate from readers as she is an FMC who essentially needed a man to “rescue” her. I, however, found it to be refreshing. A woman can be strong AND still need a man to stand beside her. I’m all for the independent don’t-need-no-man ladies but Beau needed to be needed, which is what made them so perfect for each other. It was perfection.
This one is right up there with Reckless as my favorite in the series. I seriously don’t know which one I liked better. There was even a little shocker at the end, which none of the books have had (for me at least). Each of these books has had a little blow up about 80% of the way through (I call it the third-act break up even if it isn’t a break up) and each one I have seen coming. Not this one. I was pleasantly surprised.
I loved this story, the writing, and the characters. I don’t care what the haters say. It absolutely lived up to the hype for me (but I’m also a sucker for a tortured military man).
TheRating
Storyline: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: N/A
Spice: 3/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 5/5