"If you’re anything like me, you want a little love story in your escapism. And the best writers know how to weave the perfect amount of tension and banter into those stories. Elsie Silver is fabulous at doing just that. She makes her characters feel so real that you never want to leave their fictional small towns. Elsie burst onto the scene four years ago with her Gold Rush Ranch series, but it was her second series, Chestnut Springs, that put her on my (and many others’) radar. Since then, she’s been a darling of the romance genre alongside the likes of Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry. The small towns, swoony-worthy cowboys, loving families, and tender moments she creates always make me excited to dive back into reading.
If you’re looking for books that are equal parts sweet and spicy, with characters who have you giggling and kicking your feet, here’s my ranking of Elsie Silver’s books so you know just where to start with your new favorite author.
Note: Elsie Silver’s books are interconnected standalones that can be read in any order. However, you may not catch all of the references throughout each book without reading the others.
12. Powerless
To Jasper Gervais’s fans, he’s the handsome, talented hockey heartthrob on TV. But to Sloane, he’ll always be the lost boy with a heart of gold. So when her life falls apart on the day she’s supposed to marry someone else, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save her.
Powerless is book number 3 of the Chestnut Springs series.
Sorry, Jasper and Sloane, but I just couldn’t get behind your story. Jasper is a professional hockey player who found solace in being a part of the Eaton family. Sloane is his ballerina best friend who’s been in love with him for years. After her wedding falls apart, Jasper and Sloane go on what feels like a pointless road trip so they can declare their obvious feelings for each other. The road trip aspect is fine, I guess, but it wasn’t totally compelling. They have great sexual chemistry (Elsie is incapable of writing characters who don’t), but everything else felt very flat. I found it to be an underwhelming and anti-climactic read.
11. Hopeless
Beau Eaton is a handsome military hero with a tortured past. Bailey Jansen is the outcast bartender, a shy girl from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s thirty-five, all man, and also her fiancé—correction: her fake fiancé.
Hopeless is book number 5 of the Chestnut Springs series.
Please note this book’s plot surrounds heavy topics, including PTSD and abusive family situations. Beau returns to Chestnut Springs after leaving the military but can’t seem to find his place in his family’s dynamic after everything he’s been through. Bailey is working in town, trying to piece her life together after taking care of her family, who takes advantage of her. Unfortunately, their relationship lacked the development I needed in order to believe in a couple. There were some positives in the relationship, but the age gap between them felt uncomfortable. I also didn’t love the way Bailey’s curiosity about sex and virginity was portrayed, especially in context to Beau’s age and mental health issues that went unaddressed for too long. I love Silver’s books, but this one fell short.
10. A False Start
That night, they were two strangers: the town’s grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until they weren’t. Because Nadia Dalca isn’t just some girl; she’s his best friend’s little sister and completely off limits.
A False Start is book number 4 of the Gold Rush Ranch series.
A kiss in a dive bar bathroom with your best friend’s little sister—what could go wrong? Griffin and Nadia meet drunkenly at a bar, and two whole years go by before they meet again. They’re thrown together working on the ranch while Nadia assists the veterinarians before going back to school. It’s a classic “she’s too young for me, but she’s sooooo mature for her age” story. Even though they like each other, Griffin pushes her away until he can’t take it anymore. When I read this, I was annoyed at Griff for 60% of the book, basically until he gave her the space to live her life and did some serious groveling. There was a weird push and pull the entire time—like he was pulling her metaphorical pigtails but then telling her they can’t be together. Do you like her or not, Griff? By the end, we do get a clear answer, but it felt a little lackluster. The story is just fine overall, but there are books that do this trope a lot better.
9. Wild Eyes
A rugged mountain town seemed like the perfect escape for Skylar from her chaotic life as a chart-topping country star. But when she runs into the world’s hottest single dad, all her plans are ruined.
Wild Eyes is book number 2 of the Rose Hill series.
The Elsie fans might not like me for this one, but this is my truth—Wild Eyes just doesn’t hit as hard for me as Elsie’s other books. Skylar is a pop star who’s tired of her life in the spotlight and runs off to a small town to recoup. Weston is a single dad to twins who finds her trying to take a picture of a bear (this young woman’s lack of survival instincts becomes a recurring plot point). He scoops her up and offers her his guest house—no questions asked. Weston is actually a really great guy throughout the book, but it seems like his conflict is forced on him. While Skylar legitimately needs to take back her life after fake stories and bad management, Weston’s only issue is that he’s too nice? I’m not sure that is enough to make these two work. Elsie definitely turns up the heat in this one, and I do believe this couple isn’t totally doomed. But I’m sorry, I just think any grown person should learn how to make a bed before their mid-twenties, no matter how famous they are.
8. Off to the Races
Vaughn Harding has never had a problem keeping things professional with his employees…until Billie Black waltzed onto his ranch. She and Vaughn clash from the moment they meet, but he can’t stop thinking about her.
Off to the Races is book number 1 of the Gold Rush Ranch series.
The one that started it all! In Elsie Silver’s first book, you get introduced to a lot of her signature characters: strong women, obsessed men, and horses. Vaughn blows into town to manage Gold Rush Ranch after the death of his grandfather. Billie gets hired there as the expert horse trainer. The book starts with the two butting heads over the way the business should be run, and at times, the story becomes a little mean-spirited. Billie is used to doing things her way, and so is Vaughn. They’re stubborn, they bicker, and they have really bad nicknames for each other. The chemistry just didn’t work for me with how rude these two were to each other. It felt like the passion ignited from nowhere. It’s not a bad read, but you can tell Elsie had some growing to do in her writing.
7. Wild Love
Ford Grant may be a hot billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in Rose Hill. When Rosie Belmont comes back to town, he knows she’s going to drive him wild. The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.
Off to the Races is book number 1 of the Rose Hill series.
This book is the perfect exploration of the single dad trope. Ford Grant (Willa from Heartless‘ older brother) is a hot billionaire music exec building his new recording studio. In comes Rosie Belmont, Ford’s best friend’s little sister, demanding a job. We also get a way-too-cool for her age 12-year-old who comes to the door saying Ford is her biological father. Because Ford has been obsessed with Rosie since they were kids, he’s trying to fight his attraction to her and also manage being a (this is in air quotes) father? The dad storyline is loose at best and, in my not-a-lawyer opinion, has some questionable legalities. While I loved the pining, Ford and Rosie’s relationship felt underdeveloped when compared to Elsie’s other couples.
6. The Front Runner
Stefan Dalca is beautiful, brooding, and bossy…and Mira Thorne just agreed to three fake dates with him. She’s been drawn to Stefan since the day she laid eyes on him, but as trust grows, he’s downright irresistible.
The Front Runner is book number 3 of the Gold Rush Ranch series.
Stefan is the underdog bad boy of horse racing and is trying to make his way to the top. Mira is a successful horse vet who wants nothing to do with him. After agreeing to 3 dates only, Mira realizes there’s a softer side to Stefan that the world doesn’t get to see, and Stefan falls head over heels for our hardworking queen. My favorite scene is when Stefan puts his foot down with Mira’s overbearing family. Trust me, you’ll love it too. I don’t love the way Mira’s friends act in this book, but it didn’t completely turn me off the overall story. Even though it’s in the middle of the pack when it comes to this ranking, it’s still a worthy read.
5. Flawless
The rules were simple: keep his hands off his agent’s daughter and stay out of trouble. But now, professional bull rider Rhett Eaton is stuck with Summer Hamilton. There’s only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken.
Flawless is book number 1 of the Chestnut Springs series.
The first book in the Chestnut Springs series was so enjoyable. I loved entering this new small town that would go on to live rent-free in my mind. Rhett is a super successful bull rider who finds himself in need of some media training. Enter, Summer. She’s determined to earn her spot at her father’s company and tame this wild cowboy image. The book is technically enemies-to-lovers, but Rhett is obsessed with Summer from the beginning. While there are lots of hijinks and flirty joking, they learn from each other and protect each other as the story goes along. We also get introduced to Rhett’s hilarious and loving family (which sets the series up for major success, if you ask me). Their text banter is funny, and there are a ton of tender moments to hold onto. It’s clear that Elsie put a lot of thought into building this world of ranch life and cowboys in the Canadian Rockies. The story is so well done that it turned me into a complete cowboy fangirl. It’s sweet and cozy, and it’s a book I return to often.
4. A Photo Finish
What happened between Cole Harding and Violet Eaton in their anonymous online chats was meant to stay buried in the past…until it didn’t. When Cole reluctantly moves to Ruby Creek for a business venture, he finds Violet working as a jockey on the family ranch, just as tempting as he remembers.
A Photo Finish is book number 2 of the Gold Rush Ranch series.
This book is where we see the interconnected Elsie-verse come together. Violet (the youngest of the Eaton clan) is working her way up at the ranch while chasing her dream of becoming a champion horse jockey. Cole is the tortured soul, younger brother who’s reluctantly coming home after a stint in the military. When they finally meet in person, we find out that the two have met before without realizing it. Throughout the story, they do everything they can to fight their undeniable chemistry. However, because of the forced proximity, their bond only deepens. One of my favorite aspects of this story is how Cole develops as a character and love interest. He has a lot of demons he overcomes to be the best partner possible for Violet. This book is heavy on the tension, but it all pays off in the end.
3. Wild Side
Tabitha always dreamed of her wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of Rhys Dupris, the man who betrayed her. But when her nephew’s guardianship is contested, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill, even if it means marrying the enemy.
Wild Side is book number 3 of the Rose Hill series.
This is Elsie Silver’s latest release in the Rose Hill single dads series. Elsie is an auto-read for me, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue when this book was announced. However, I’m so glad I kept going because Rhys and Tabitha are now one of my favorite Elsie Silver couples. The story starts with Tabitha grieving the loss of her older sister while also taking custody of her nephew, Milo. Rhys is her sister’s neighbor and also happens to be Milo’s legal guardian, according to the will left behind. We see the two of them navigate loss and anger because, of course, Tabitha will do anything to keep Milo. The book explores a lot of heavy topics but uses them to bring Rhys and Tabby together in the best way. Throughout the story, Rhys takes such good care of Tabby long before she realizes she wants to do the same for him. The pining is off the charts, and I love that the side characters from earlier in the series create a little family around them. I think this is the best book in the Rose Hill series by far.
2. Reckless
Theo Silva is a rowdy bull rider and notorious ladies’ man. Winter Hamilton knows exactly what it means when he eyes her like that. The man is hard to trust―but, it turns out, even harder to resist.
Reckless is book number 4 of the Chestnut Springs series.
Reckless is the story of a young bull rider and the woman he had a one-night stand with that he can’t get out of his head. Unfortunately for him, Winter (our lovely heroine) only wanted that one night so she could forget about her abusive ex. Little did she know Theo would step up after finding out they have a child together. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of surprise pregnancy books, but this one may have changed my mind. Because Theo Silva, the man that you are! It’s kind of messed up how he finds out about the child, but he is immediately all in for Winter and their little girl. He slowly starts to break down the walls Winter has around her heart and proves that they can be a real family despite their rocky start. I also think Winter is a great representation of people who don’t always give the best first impression. She’s known as being cold and unforgiving, but when you get down to the heart of it, she’s just trying to protect herself after being let down in the past. The spicy scenes are great, but what will really have you swooning is Theo trying to win Winter over throughout the entire story. He’s relentless (which honestly would have been a great alternate title).
1. Heartless
Working as a nanny for the world’s grumpiest single dad should be simple…except Willa Grant can’t keep her eyes off Cade Eaton. And he can’t keep his hands off her.
Heartless is book number 2 of the Chestnut Springs series.
Cade Eaton is a single dad reluctant to hire a nanny for his young son, Luke. Willa comes bursting into his life and turns everything upside down. She becomes a presence in this little family’s life that they never want to give up. These two, well, they have my heart. Willa completely steps up to be the best person for Luke. She also breaks Cade out of his shell with her bright personality and no Fs given attitude. More than once, she puts Cade in his place, and the results are explosive. After the hot tub scene, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. It’s plot-light and tension- and banter-heavy. You get a family drama and jealousy to keep the story going, but otherwise, it’s just a sweet and funny grumpy/sunshine story. I always recommend reading this one first, even though it’s the second in the series.
Lacey Brown, Contributing Writer
Lacey is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and lives in Brooklyn. She currently works in news marketing at MSNBC doing media strategy but has previously worked in tech and communications. She is a part-time writer and has previously written for sites like Byrdie and Brit and Co.