7 Heartwarming Small Town Romances: Friends to Lovers, Just Like ‘Powerless’ by Elsie Silver
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If you’re anything like us, you can’t resist the allure of a heartwarming small-town romance, especially when it’s sprinkled with the irresistible friends-to-lovers trope. We’ve all fallen head over heels for Jasper and Sloane’s journey in ‘Powerless’ by Elsie Silver, where a hockey player’s long-standing crush and a desire for escape lead to an unforgettable 12-hour road trip and a deep exploration of their feelings.
Now, if you’re craving more tales of love that simmered quietly between friends before bursting into something beautiful, you’re in for a treat. In this blog post, we’ve curated a list of 7 enchanting books that will give you that same warm and fuzzy feeling you got from ‘Powerless.’ These stories are set in charming small towns where hockey players not only chase pucks but also chase after the one person who’s been there all along— their best friend.
So, grab your coziest reading nook, a cup of your favorite brew, and get ready to dive into these captivating tales of friendship, love, and the magic of small-town romance. Let’s embark on this literary journey together as we explore the world of friends-to-lovers romance in the company of rugged hockey players and the small towns that steal their hearts.
How spicy is Powerless?
Powerless is a slow-burn small-town romance that features multiple sex scenes. It is a medium spice level;
Can I read Powerless on Kindle Unlimited?
Powerless is only available on Kindle Unlimited in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Does Powerless have an audiobook?
Yes, the Powerless audiobook is available exclusively through Audible.
If you are interested in trying Audible and getting free credit, sign up for this Audible free trial.
Where can I access Elsie Silver’s Bonus Material?Elsie Silver’s bonus material is available exclusively on her website,
Powerless Elsie Silver
Two childhood friends. Two broken hearts. One impromptu road trip to get away from everything. That’s all this was supposed to be. After all, I’ve been living in the friend zone for years now.
But hockey heartthrob Jasper Gervais isn’t looking at me like a friend anymore. And he isn’t touching me like one either.
To his fans, he’s the handsome, talented athlete on TV. To me, he’s still the lost boy with sad eyes and a heart of gold.
The man I’ve loved in secret for years.
So when my life falls apart on my wedding day, it only makes sense that he’s the one to swoop in and save me. And when his world comes crashing down around him, I’m there to return the favor.
But the more time we spend alone, the more Jasper doesn’t feel like a friend at all. He feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and thought I could never have.
Our feelings aren’t straightforward though. They twist and turn around the pain of his past and the reality of my present.
Jasper Gervais acts like he wants me.
But after years of turning me away, he’s going to need to prove it.
Read If You Want: If you’re into romantic stories, you might want to check out “Powerless” by Elsie Silver. It’s all about the journey of Jasper and Sloane, two childhood friends with an age gap, who slowly realize their deep feelings for each other. The plot takes an exciting turn when they decide to embark on a road trip together, and during the drive, they discover the undeniable attraction they share. This book offers a slow-burn romance with just enough spice to keep you hooked! Give it a read if you’re up for some heart-melting moments
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7 BOOKS LIKE POWERLESS
Waiting to Score by Evey Lyon
Former hockey star Declan Dash loves to play the game, and the one with his friend’s little sister, Violet Spears? He plans to win…
Running into your brother’s billionaire ex-hockey-playing best friend at a special kind of party should have been a red flag. Pulling one another’s names from a bowl at said party was a coincidence. Having a wild night together that we said we’d forget was probably our mistake. Especially when Declan shows up weeks later as the new owner of the hockey team that practices in Lake Spark, and he has an offer for me.
Meet him every day in his hotel room for a week to enjoy a little fling while he passes through town.
Yep, I stupidly agree. But the man has a few talents, and I need to take a lunch break from my flower shop anyway. Except, our timeline gets extended and the game Declan plays doesn’t come with a rule book. The lines between us get blurry. My brother will go through the roof if he ever finds out that his friend laid a finger on me, but it’s my heart that feels fragile because I can’t figure out if we have a future or if I’m just a big game where he’s been waiting to score…Declan and Violet bring the heat in this brother’s-best-friend and billionaire romance. Waiting to Score can be read as a complete standalone and is the first book in the Lake Spark Off-Season series which is a spin-off of the Lake Spark series. For lovers of small-town romance with a touch of hockey.
Meet Me in the Penalty Box by Cali Melle
She was the one thing he couldn’t have, but that wouldn’t stop him from getting what he wanted.
After a nasty break-up with her ex, moving to Orchid Beach was like a breath of fresh air.
Harper landed a brand new job as a sports photogrpher for a professional hockey team.
It was just what she needed to get away from everything she had ever known.
One drunken night at a club had her sneaking into another room with a stranger.
But that stranger ended up being no one other than Nico Cirone.
The star rookie player for the Orchid City Vipers.
The same team that she was now working for.
And that made him completely off limits.
Nico Cirone had been at the top of his game, but as a rookie, he couldn’t afford to lose his new position.
His luck felt like it was stretching thin and there was only one solution.
He needed a new good luck charm.
And after running into Harper, he knew that he had finally found what he was looking for.
It was an easy arrangement, one they could both benefit from.
He would help her forget her ex and she would help him play the best hockey he’d ever played before.
It was supposed to be simple…
Until it wasn’t anymore.
You Again by Lane Hayes
The hometown hockey hero and his best friend’s brother…
Vinnie
Hockey is in my blood. I learned to skate before I learned how to ride a bike. I’ve been on a wild ride, playing at the highest level for some of the biggest and best teams in the league. But now it’s over, and I’m not sure what to do with myself.
So I’m going home to Elmwood.
But I’ll tell you what I’m not gonna do—I’m not going to coach my buddy’s junior hockey league. No chance. I don’t know how to deal with kids, and besides, the other coach—who happens to be my best friend’s brother—hates me. With reason.
That may be old news, yet something tells me we’re going to have to deal with the past.
And that’s almost as scary as coaching teens.
Nolan
No, I don’t hate Vinnie, but he drives me nuts.
He’s cocky, goofy, selfish, and yeah…after all these years, I’m still attracted to him. But I’m a responsible adult now. I run my family’s business, and with the help of my ex, I’ve made Elmwood Diner into a New England institution.
So maybe my life isn’t particularly exciting at the moment, and maybe Vinnie isn’t the worst. Nonetheless, I have no desire to rekindle a friendship with the hockey hero who no doubt will be on the first flight out of town the second he gets bored or gets a better offer.
And I’m not coaching with him. No way.
Ugh…
I can’t believe I’m doing this again.
You, Again is an MM bisexual, best friend’s brother, frenemies to lovers romance featuring old friends, a new quest, and a little hockey HEA!
Bountiful by Sarina Bowen
No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules. Now a USA Today bestseller!
Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.
Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.
Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave From Brooklyn will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.
Hockey star Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.
Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.
Time For You by Renee Harless
I had big plans when I returned home to my small town, but they didn’t include a retired hot-shot hockey player getting in my way.
The last person I wanted to fix up my historic dream home with was the handsome older man, with money to burn, who bought it right out from under me.
But thanks to my father, that’s exactly what happened. Colton Crawford was making my house a home, and I was back in my childhood room, trying not to think of the towering, gorgeous Adonis with a killer smile… and how much I hated him.
Or at least that’s what I tried to tell myself.
Because the more time we were forced to spend together in the dust and debris, the less our age-gap mattered.
And the more the sparks flew.
Colton was used to scoring on the ice, and after a freak storm left us sharing one tiny bed in his metal camper, the heat smoldering between us was hot enough to burn us both.
But just when I thought my sexy, new neighbor might not be so bad, real-life came knocking, reminding us what we walked away from.
**This is book 1 in the Sunny Brook Farms Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. Always an HEA!
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Ever Mine by Laura Pavlov
He’s hockey’s golden boy, my new client, and the man I’ve avoided for the last nine years. I was hired to fix him—but he’s not the only one who’s broken.
Hawk Madden was my first love.
I thought he would be my forever.
But life wasn’t always fair.
And grief could be a cruel beast.
Fight or flight?
I’d always run.
But now he’s back in my life after all these years.
With one look.
One touch.
One kiss.
Old feelings resurface.
Feelings that I thought I’d buried a long time ago.
Hawk Madden was my first love…
I just didn’t know that he’d be my last.
If you’re searching for a compelling read, “Ever Mine” by Laura Pavlov might be just what you’re looking for. This story revolves around Hawk and Everly, and it’s a tale of second chances and love that refuses to fade away.
Hawk Madden is not only a hockey superstar but also my newest client, and oddly enough, someone I’ve been avoiding for nearly a decade. I was brought in to help him, but little did I know that he’s not the only one with broken pieces.
Hawk was my very first love, the one I believed would be my forever. However, life can be incredibly unfair, and grief has a way of tearing people apart. In the face of adversity, I had always chosen to run away.
But now, after all these years, he’s back in my life. With just one look, one touch, one kiss, all those old feelings that I thought I had buried come rushing back. It turns out, Hawk Madden was not just my first love; he might just be my last.
Curious to find out if their love can withstand the test of time? Dive into “Ever Mine” to uncover the beautiful and emotional journey of Hawk and Everly as they navigate the complexities of life and love. 📖❤️🏒
Pretend to Love You by Julia Jarrett
I agree to fake date my little sister’s best friend, never expecting I’d fall in love.
My professional hockey career is over thanks to a busted leg from one too many hits into the boards. Coming home to Dogwood Cove to figure out my next steps is the best option I’ve got, even if I’m in a dark place where not even my nosy family can lift my grumpy mood.
But Lily isn’t deterred, and her sunshine alone pierces the darkness. She’s the physical therapist tasked with helping me recover, and she’s helping heal more than just my broken body. So when she needs my help, I don’t hesitate to step up.
Falling for her starts out innocent enough. Lily needs a date to a family wedding, one that promises to be more torture than celebration.
Now, thanks to an overbooked hotel with only one bed, two gossiping bridesmaids, and a three minute slow dance… the entire town, including our families, thinks we’re dating.
To save face we decide to keep the ruse going.
There’s just one problem: What I’m feeling for Lily is anything but pretend.
She thinks my future is still in hockey, but I know differently. My future is with her.
Pretend To Love You You is perfect for fans of steamy small town romance centered around a big family who love to get in each other’s business. If you love grumpy heroes who only smile for their woman, swoon-worthy moments and plenty of spice, then this is the book for you. It is a standalone, and the third full length novel in the Donnellys of Dogwood Cove series.