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Emerald Lake #1
Fever Dream
From no.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Elsie Silver comes a small-town, forbidden, rivals-to-lovers romance, the first book in the brand-new Western romance series Emerald Lake.
Professional bull rider Emmett Bush is not looking for love. He's looking for a paycheck to save his family's farm from bankruptcy. So, when he agrees to be the leading man on a hot new reality dating show, Romance Ranch, he's already decided it's all one big performance.
Until Julia Silva walks onto his property. Smart, snarky, beautiful, and off-limits in more ways than one. As the location consultant on set and the little sister of his most bitter professional rival, she's the last woman who should pique his interest.
Julia has been warned about Emmett. She knows better than to fall for his cocky swagger, broad shoulders, and smoldering good looks. Plus, she's sworn off relationships.
But as Julia and Emmett work together, mutual distaste grows into an unexpected connection and then... something more.
Soon, they find themselves searching for excuses to spend time together and out of reach of the cameras. Knowing glances. Stolen kisses. Secret rendezvous.
Still, Emmett signed up to play the role of an eligible bachelor searching for the one. His family's land and legacy depend on him completing the show.
The problem is, he's already fallen in love.
Just not with a contestant.
Professional bull rider Emmett Bush is not looking for love. He's looking for a paycheck to save his family's farm from bankruptcy. So, when he agrees to be the leading man on a hot new reality dating show, Romance Ranch, he's already decided it's all one big performance.
Until Julia Silva walks onto his property. Smart, snarky, beautiful, and off-limits in more ways than one. As the location consultant on set and the little sister of his most bitter professional rival, she's the last woman who should pique his interest.
Julia has been warned about Emmett. She knows better than to fall for his cocky swagger, broad shoulders, and smoldering good looks. Plus, she's sworn off relationships.
But as Julia and Emmett work together, mutual distaste grows into an unexpected connection and then... something more.
Soon, they find themselves searching for excuses to spend time together and out of reach of the cameras. Knowing glances. Stolen kisses. Secret rendezvous.
Still, Emmett signed up to play the role of an eligible bachelor searching for the one. His family's land and legacy depend on him completing the show.
The problem is, he's already fallen in love.
Just not with a contestant.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Elsie Silver
32 books77.6k followersElsie Silver is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of sassy, steamy, small town romance. She’s a born and raised Canadian girl who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. Her books promise banter, tension, and a slow burn that comes to a screeching halt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,027 reviews
May 22, 2026
yup. ate this up as per usual <3
the theowinter crumbs >>
the theowinter crumbs >>
May 23, 2026
Elsie silver DOES IT YET AGAIN. Spectacular, when is the next one coming?
Want to Read
November 26, 2025authors stop using the line “he was so dirty”… to talk about non white skin…when???
November 24, 2025
Alrighty, I’m calling it quits. I made it to 25% and have 30 highlights and notes. If I made it all the way, my Kindle would start on fire.
If Elsie Silver revealed that actually this was written by her 13 year old niece, I would say yes. Yes, I know.
Because despite this being from the POV of two adults, it reads so much like two 13 year olds. I read one page in a 13 year old boy’s voice and it worked so well. And that’s obviously down to how juvenile the writing is.
I don’t remember if Elsie Silver’s older books were this poorly written—it’s been a second since I read them and I’m honestly scared to go back and try at the risk of being disappointed. This book was Jasmine Mas/Lyla Sage level of poor writing.
Here’s a section from the book. No spoilers or anything. I’m just showing how weirdly written this is:
But without another word, I move in her direction.
And I start unloading bags of dirt.
Like I said, irritating.
We finish unloading in silence.
Are paragraphs not cool anymore? What are we doing? I get people have no attention spans these days and “there are too many words on the page” but come on…
This is a 3rd grade writing level.
And that’s just one example! There are more that I don’t want to add as this is an ARC and changes may be made pre-release. Just come on, y’all. Romance is silly goofy, yes, but the genre does deserve quality.
Speaking of that! Let’s talk about the “all tell don’t show.” This book was on another level. I’ve never been hit so hard over the head before about how I should feel about characters. I think Lyla Sage is the only one who has done it worse, but it’s close competition.
I’m told constantly that Emmett is a manwhore, rude, egotistic, blah blah. Turns out he’s the nicest person alive. Wholesome to his core.
Julia had a very scary situation happen (which I won’t reveal as it may be a spoiler) but then we’re told in a half a page how the incident really affected her and she used to be a partier but then she took a few months to work out, eat right, focus on her studies, and ditch her bad friends.
ELSIE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHOW ME. Stop telling me! I want to SEE how she’s changed. I want to SEE Emmett being a douche bag.
But of course you don’t because that would ruin the fantasy. You can’t have REAL, layered people in romance books—at least not if they’re the main characters because then it would be harder to love them.
The only person in this book who is “mean” is the producer and he’s anime villain level mean: no complexities, no nuance. Just mean, nasty, sexist because we need a bad guy.
Everyone in this book is a one-dimensional character who is so good to their core. They are teasing, but in a lovable way. They selflessly take care of everyone. They bake fresh cookies. They have a business that they love—not for the money, but because they love the job so much. They work hard—the hardest.
Like, come on! There’s nothing here. It’s juvenile writing, juvenile characterization, juvenile storyline, with a predictable, juvenile ending.
Romance deserves better than this, it really does. I don’t need to know everyone’s eye color. I swear, no one cares about eye color more than romance and romantasy authors. I got told everyone’s eye color immediately, when they first entered a scene.
I DON’T CARE WHO HAS BLUE EYES AND WHO HAS BROWN EYES. Write a complex character!
I wouldn’t be so annoyed if this wasn’t going to be so popular when it releases. It just feels like a lazy, rush job that a 13 year old could write better.
There was also a part in this where Elsie Silver wrote:
“mischievous-looking little blond boy—hair nearly white—with a tan so dark that his knees almost appear dirty.”
Hello? Even after the Jessa Hastings debacle, we’re still writing “so tan they look dirty.” Can we just stop?
Anyway, that’s all for me. I can retire Elsie Silver to the shelf of romance authors I’ll no longer read from until they take a writing class.
Thank you, Edelweiss for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If Elsie Silver revealed that actually this was written by her 13 year old niece, I would say yes. Yes, I know.
Because despite this being from the POV of two adults, it reads so much like two 13 year olds. I read one page in a 13 year old boy’s voice and it worked so well. And that’s obviously down to how juvenile the writing is.
I don’t remember if Elsie Silver’s older books were this poorly written—it’s been a second since I read them and I’m honestly scared to go back and try at the risk of being disappointed. This book was Jasmine Mas/Lyla Sage level of poor writing.
Here’s a section from the book. No spoilers or anything. I’m just showing how weirdly written this is:
But without another word, I move in her direction.
And I start unloading bags of dirt.
Like I said, irritating.
We finish unloading in silence.
Are paragraphs not cool anymore? What are we doing? I get people have no attention spans these days and “there are too many words on the page” but come on…
This is a 3rd grade writing level.
And that’s just one example! There are more that I don’t want to add as this is an ARC and changes may be made pre-release. Just come on, y’all. Romance is silly goofy, yes, but the genre does deserve quality.
Speaking of that! Let’s talk about the “all tell don’t show.” This book was on another level. I’ve never been hit so hard over the head before about how I should feel about characters. I think Lyla Sage is the only one who has done it worse, but it’s close competition.
I’m told constantly that Emmett is a manwhore, rude, egotistic, blah blah. Turns out he’s the nicest person alive. Wholesome to his core.
Julia had a very scary situation happen (which I won’t reveal as it may be a spoiler) but then we’re told in a half a page how the incident really affected her and she used to be a partier but then she took a few months to work out, eat right, focus on her studies, and ditch her bad friends.
ELSIE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHOW ME. Stop telling me! I want to SEE how she’s changed. I want to SEE Emmett being a douche bag.
But of course you don’t because that would ruin the fantasy. You can’t have REAL, layered people in romance books—at least not if they’re the main characters because then it would be harder to love them.
The only person in this book who is “mean” is the producer and he’s anime villain level mean: no complexities, no nuance. Just mean, nasty, sexist because we need a bad guy.
Everyone in this book is a one-dimensional character who is so good to their core. They are teasing, but in a lovable way. They selflessly take care of everyone. They bake fresh cookies. They have a business that they love—not for the money, but because they love the job so much. They work hard—the hardest.
Like, come on! There’s nothing here. It’s juvenile writing, juvenile characterization, juvenile storyline, with a predictable, juvenile ending.
Romance deserves better than this, it really does. I don’t need to know everyone’s eye color. I swear, no one cares about eye color more than romance and romantasy authors. I got told everyone’s eye color immediately, when they first entered a scene.
I DON’T CARE WHO HAS BLUE EYES AND WHO HAS BROWN EYES. Write a complex character!
I wouldn’t be so annoyed if this wasn’t going to be so popular when it releases. It just feels like a lazy, rush job that a 13 year old could write better.
There was also a part in this where Elsie Silver wrote:
“mischievous-looking little blond boy—hair nearly white—with a tan so dark that his knees almost appear dirty.”
Hello? Even after the Jessa Hastings debacle, we’re still writing “so tan they look dirty.” Can we just stop?
Anyway, that’s all for me. I can retire Elsie Silver to the shelf of romance authors I’ll no longer read from until they take a writing class.
Thank you, Edelweiss for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2026
So good!! I knew I was going to love Emmett and boy did I. This book was everything I needed it to be, emotional and fun and filled with banter and yearning. I laughed, I cried, I giggled uncontrollably and wished I could give Emmett the biggest hug.
Emmett was so prickly on the outside, yet such a softie inside. Flirty and cocky one moment, vulnerable and sweet the next, I loved both sides of him. His love towards his family, the way he could be himself around Julia, how torn he was about everything, he truly was amazing. My heart broke for him and the little boy he was..
Julia was so sassy and lovable, I loved the way she could hold her own against Emmett, how supportive she was, how she saw the real him. The trust she had in him and how safe she felt with him, it was so special.
Emmett's family was the best. I loved their bond, especially Emmett and Parker and their crawl space. I absolutely adored Oma and Opa. Oma is an ICON!!
And Richard was very aptly nicknamed.
The progression of their relationship while he was filming a dating show was the perfect recipe for yearning, with how hard they tried to fight their feelings because they both had a lot riding on the show. The forbidden aspect made it so much better. It was such a fun concept, a cowboy romance and a dating reality TV show, an unexpected mix. I ate it up. The pace was a little slower, but I liked it. I loved reading about the dates he went on the show, some of those girls were great, some the worst, but they were always entertaining. But, seeing how integral Julia was to him during that time, how she was always on his mind, that was my favourite part. We love a man obsessed. The cruise, the flirting, the cacti, the vulnerability, the diner and the breakfast, the sunrise, the yearning, the dive bar, the tension, the hug, the rain, the sneaking around, the lunch, the love. Every single moment, perfect. Their connection ran deep.
“𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝔂?”
I'm so excited for the rest of the stories, I already loved them all!! The next book better be about who I think it will be, that trope is my bread and butter.
Also, seeing Theo and Winter again made me so unbelievably happy!!
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
It's here, it's here!!!
I'm so excited for this, I've been counting down the days!
Emmett was so prickly on the outside, yet such a softie inside. Flirty and cocky one moment, vulnerable and sweet the next, I loved both sides of him. His love towards his family, the way he could be himself around Julia, how torn he was about everything, he truly was amazing. My heart broke for him and the little boy he was..
Julia was so sassy and lovable, I loved the way she could hold her own against Emmett, how supportive she was, how she saw the real him. The trust she had in him and how safe she felt with him, it was so special.
Emmett's family was the best. I loved their bond, especially Emmett and Parker and their crawl space. I absolutely adored Oma and Opa. Oma is an ICON!!
And Richard was very aptly nicknamed.
The progression of their relationship while he was filming a dating show was the perfect recipe for yearning, with how hard they tried to fight their feelings because they both had a lot riding on the show. The forbidden aspect made it so much better. It was such a fun concept, a cowboy romance and a dating reality TV show, an unexpected mix. I ate it up. The pace was a little slower, but I liked it. I loved reading about the dates he went on the show, some of those girls were great, some the worst, but they were always entertaining. But, seeing how integral Julia was to him during that time, how she was always on his mind, that was my favourite part. We love a man obsessed. The cruise, the flirting, the cacti, the vulnerability, the diner and the breakfast, the sunrise, the yearning, the dive bar, the tension, the hug, the rain, the sneaking around, the lunch, the love. Every single moment, perfect. Their connection ran deep.
“𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝔂?”
I'm so excited for the rest of the stories, I already loved them all!! The next book better be about who I think it will be, that trope is my bread and butter.
Also, seeing Theo and Winter again made me so unbelievably happy!!
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
It's here, it's here!!!
I'm so excited for this, I've been counting down the days!
![Profile Image for Matea ☽ [ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1770562207i/166923233._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
May 23, 2026
OH ELSIE. ELSIE SILVER YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE OF A WOMAN!!!!!!!
I KNEW this book was going to drag me out of my reading slump by the hair. At this point, for me, this woman genuinely cannot write a bad book. (Well… except that one debut where the FMC had more chemistry with her horse than the MMC, but we(me) as a society have collectively agreed to ignore that.)
This was a SOLID 4.5-star read and now allow me to scream incoherently about the things I loved:
FIRST OF ALL — Elsie and her tiny recurring trope of MMCs stealing the FMC’s panties????? MA’AM. COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF. Michelin-starred behavior.
Now let’s review the menu of things I already knew I was going to devour:
Cowboy? YES.
Forced proximity? YES.
Secret dating? YES.
Emotionally unavailable MMC who turns into melted butter for the FMC? ABSOLUTELY. MF. YES.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR???
THAT MAN BEING BLOND?????????BLOND.
ELSIE SILVER MADE ME FALL FOR A BLOND MAN.
I am currently experiencing a full identity crisis because I have spent my last two reviews publicly slandering blond MMCs like it was my full-time job. And now suddenly I’m giggling and kicking my feet over one???
Embarrassing. Humiliating, even. Thank you so much, Miss Elsie.
ALSO — THEO SILVA AND WINTER CRUMBS??????????
I WOULD DIE FOR THEM. I WOULD COMMIT TAX FRAUD FOR THEM. I AM FERAL.
And the slow burn in this book??? EXQUISITE.
Kiss at around 55%.
Some very memorable licking activities around 65% (only one party was being licked, God bless).
And the actual full event? You’ll have to clock in and find out yourselves.
THIS is how you do slow burn romance. I was FEASTING.
I genuinely don’t even know whether I loved Julia or Emmett more. Together they were perfect — the banter, the tension, the emotional constipation slowly evolving into love??? Delicious. Absolutely delicious. Especially our MMC, who has apparently been emotionally unavailable since birth.
And honestly? The smut was fantastic. But the relationship development was SO GOOD that I genuinely wouldn’t have minded if the book had zero smut at all.
If they never slept together, I still would’ve eaten this up. HOWEVER. I am also not a saint, so let’s not pretend I didn’t enjoy every second once they finally got there.
GUILTYYYYYY.
Also, can we PLEASE discuss the romance-book miracle that happens EVERY SINGLE TIME?
They’re five seconds away from having sex.
MMC suddenly reveals he has no condoms.
And then comes the line I have now read approximately one BILLION TIMES:
“I’ve been tested and I haven’t been with anyone else.”
OH WOW. AMAZING. INCREDIBLE TIMING. A MODERN MEDICAL MARVEL.
Do romance characters have a monthly STI subscription plan? Are they collecting loyalty points? Because the efficiency here is unmatched.
Anyway.
What lowered the rating?
“Steely dick.” That’s it. Absolutely not.
_________________________
pre-read
Elsie, please for the love of god, get me out of this reading slump 😭
I KNEW this book was going to drag me out of my reading slump by the hair. At this point, for me, this woman genuinely cannot write a bad book. (Well… except that one debut where the FMC had more chemistry with her horse than the MMC, but we(me) as a society have collectively agreed to ignore that.)
This was a SOLID 4.5-star read and now allow me to scream incoherently about the things I loved:
FIRST OF ALL — Elsie and her tiny recurring trope of MMCs stealing the FMC’s panties????? MA’AM. COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF. Michelin-starred behavior.
Now let’s review the menu of things I already knew I was going to devour:
Cowboy? YES.
Forced proximity? YES.
Secret dating? YES.
Emotionally unavailable MMC who turns into melted butter for the FMC? ABSOLUTELY. MF. YES.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR???
THAT MAN BEING BLOND?????????BLOND.
ELSIE SILVER MADE ME FALL FOR A BLOND MAN.
I am currently experiencing a full identity crisis because I have spent my last two reviews publicly slandering blond MMCs like it was my full-time job. And now suddenly I’m giggling and kicking my feet over one???
Embarrassing. Humiliating, even. Thank you so much, Miss Elsie.
ALSO — THEO SILVA AND WINTER CRUMBS??????????
I WOULD DIE FOR THEM. I WOULD COMMIT TAX FRAUD FOR THEM. I AM FERAL.
And the slow burn in this book??? EXQUISITE.
Kiss at around 55%.
Some very memorable licking activities around 65% (only one party was being licked, God bless).
And the actual full event? You’ll have to clock in and find out yourselves.
THIS is how you do slow burn romance. I was FEASTING.
I genuinely don’t even know whether I loved Julia or Emmett more. Together they were perfect — the banter, the tension, the emotional constipation slowly evolving into love??? Delicious. Absolutely delicious. Especially our MMC, who has apparently been emotionally unavailable since birth.
And honestly? The smut was fantastic. But the relationship development was SO GOOD that I genuinely wouldn’t have minded if the book had zero smut at all.
If they never slept together, I still would’ve eaten this up. HOWEVER. I am also not a saint, so let’s not pretend I didn’t enjoy every second once they finally got there.
GUILTYYYYYY.
Also, can we PLEASE discuss the romance-book miracle that happens EVERY SINGLE TIME?
They’re five seconds away from having sex.
MMC suddenly reveals he has no condoms.
And then comes the line I have now read approximately one BILLION TIMES:
“I’ve been tested and I haven’t been with anyone else.”
OH WOW. AMAZING. INCREDIBLE TIMING. A MODERN MEDICAL MARVEL.
Do romance characters have a monthly STI subscription plan? Are they collecting loyalty points? Because the efficiency here is unmatched.
Anyway.
What lowered the rating?
“Steely dick.” That’s it. Absolutely not.
_________________________
pre-read
Elsie, please for the love of god, get me out of this reading slump 😭
May 23, 2026
oh my god this was horrendously bad. i don’t have anything nice to say guys.
a glimpse into my thoughts while reading, courtesy of my notes app:
- okay maybe emmett has potential?
- why would she write the reality tv show plot just to make both characters miserable about the reality tv show plot 🧍🏼♀️ it's making ME miserable about the reality tv show plot because all they're doing is complaining about it
- theo and winter 🥹🥹🥹
- the evelyn drama is so stupid i can't
- fucking hate a "i don't want a relationship" man when he spends all his time thinking about a girl
- page 52 emmett's not allowed to "publicly" date another girl then for the rest of the book he's not allowed to date or show any interest in another girl period and the discrepancy is annoying me
- "bad boy" emmett has shown absolutely zero signs of being a bad boy or a womanizer or literally anything that he was supposed to be
- conflict at 60% where they tell each other to choose other people when all they've done is kiss twice??
- he's SPYING on her after he told her to go on this date i'm sorry that is beyond weird
- why is julia all hurt over him not-kissing evelyn when it is his JOB and she has been telling him to do his JOB and she knows it's not REAL
- "feeling very attached to emmett" for absolutely no reason be so fr right now you hardly know him
- this conflict at 90% is actually just making me laugh over how ridiculous it is pls 😭
- wow this was so bad thank god it's over
needless to say there’s a very good chance that this is it for me and elsie silver books. i wanted something different from all her other books and i guess she kinda tried to give that? but honestly emmett and julia are just different versions of the same characters she’s written over and over. the small town slash ranch setting is the same. the spice is the same. the whole pacing and structure of the relationship is the same.
and somehow she managed to make this even WORSE. i don’t know what the hell this reality tv show plot was even supposed to be but it didn’t work in the slightest. it gave absolutely nothing except ✨stupid✨ and ✨poorly executed✨. the characters were so shallow and immature, like i didn’t feel like i really knew them but i did know that they acted like children.
don’t catch me wasting my time with this series tbh.
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
all of elsie’s books have started to feel the same to mei know you all agree don’t lie so if this isn’t something different then i fear it’s the end of the road for me n her 🫣
a glimpse into my thoughts while reading, courtesy of my notes app:
- okay maybe emmett has potential?
- why would she write the reality tv show plot just to make both characters miserable about the reality tv show plot 🧍🏼♀️ it's making ME miserable about the reality tv show plot because all they're doing is complaining about it
- theo and winter 🥹🥹🥹
- the evelyn drama is so stupid i can't
- fucking hate a "i don't want a relationship" man when he spends all his time thinking about a girl
- page 52 emmett's not allowed to "publicly" date another girl then for the rest of the book he's not allowed to date or show any interest in another girl period and the discrepancy is annoying me
- "bad boy" emmett has shown absolutely zero signs of being a bad boy or a womanizer or literally anything that he was supposed to be
- conflict at 60% where they tell each other to choose other people when all they've done is kiss twice??
- he's SPYING on her after he told her to go on this date i'm sorry that is beyond weird
- why is julia all hurt over him not-kissing evelyn when it is his JOB and she has been telling him to do his JOB and she knows it's not REAL
- "feeling very attached to emmett" for absolutely no reason be so fr right now you hardly know him
- this conflict at 90% is actually just making me laugh over how ridiculous it is pls 😭
- wow this was so bad thank god it's over
needless to say there’s a very good chance that this is it for me and elsie silver books. i wanted something different from all her other books and i guess she kinda tried to give that? but honestly emmett and julia are just different versions of the same characters she’s written over and over. the small town slash ranch setting is the same. the spice is the same. the whole pacing and structure of the relationship is the same.
and somehow she managed to make this even WORSE. i don’t know what the hell this reality tv show plot was even supposed to be but it didn’t work in the slightest. it gave absolutely nothing except ✨stupid✨ and ✨poorly executed✨. the characters were so shallow and immature, like i didn’t feel like i really knew them but i did know that they acted like children.
don’t catch me wasting my time with this series tbh.
𐙚⋆.˚pre-read
all of elsie’s books have started to feel the same to me
Want to Read
October 16, 2025We have a cover and I'm in LOVE 😍😍
When the queen of small-town romance writes it, I will read it!!! Can't wait to fall in love with series and another MMC ☺️💘
When the queen of small-town romance writes it, I will read it!!! Can't wait to fall in love with series and another MMC ☺️💘
June 3, 2026
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷🦄 “𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕀’𝕞 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕗𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕖𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕖.”
🫷🤠 YEENAW 🤠🫸
⋆.˚☁️⋆ 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 ݁˖🦄.🫧 ݁🌷 ݁˖ ₊ ⊹
{👢} cowboy romance
{📺} reality dating show
{❤️🔥} enemies to lovers
{🚩} rival's sister
{🔒} forbidden romance
this was love island but ✨cowboy✨, cowboy in question being self-professed manwhore emmett bush. the show was basically nonexistent because most of the "plot" was instead focused on emmett & julia (his rival's sister & the show's "consultant") horndogging over each other, and trying but not trying to be secretive about it so that emmett's grandparents don't die poor and julia can get pine needles stuck in her a$$ on other tv shows. however it doesn't really matter i guess and they lived happily ever after 🫧🦄🍆 💦
U OWE ME BIG TIME FOR THIS SHITSHOW my naima strawberry ridden by cowboy stuck with annie kiwi
she wanted me to remind y'all that "she was selfish, he wasnt a manwhore but actually scaref of women, and that theo was a dickshit."
2 stars for pine needle ass removal
downgrading to 1 star because i somehow didn't realize this:
save a cowboy ride a horse
🫧🦄🪻💜 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
my naima strawberry ridden by cowboy stuck with annie kiwi 🧼🫧🧺🧽🧹 blackmailed me into this buddy read because despite her unreliable preread she has separation anxiety & lovesto ride cowboys 🤠.°˖⋆ ℧ 𓃗 .°˖⋆𓄋
🫷🤠 YEENAW 🤠🫸
⋆.˚☁️⋆ 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 ݁˖🦄.🫧 ݁🌷 ݁˖ ₊ ⊹
{👢} cowboy romance
{📺} reality dating show
{❤️🔥} enemies to lovers
{🚩} rival's sister
{🔒} forbidden romance
this was love island but ✨cowboy✨, cowboy in question being self-professed manwhore emmett bush. the show was basically nonexistent because most of the "plot" was instead focused on emmett & julia (his rival's sister & the show's "consultant") horndogging over each other, and trying but not trying to be secretive about it so that emmett's grandparents don't die poor and julia can get pine needles stuck in her a$$ on other tv shows. however it doesn't really matter i guess and they lived happily ever after 🫧🦄🍆 💦
U OWE ME BIG TIME FOR THIS SHITSHOW my naima strawberry ridden by cowboy stuck with annie kiwi
she wanted me to remind y'all that "she was selfish, he wasnt a manwhore but actually scaref of women, and that theo was a dickshit."
downgrading to 1 star because i somehow didn't realize this:
save a cowboy ride a horse
🫧🦄🪻💜 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
my naima strawberry ridden by cowboy stuck with annie kiwi 🧼🫧🧺🧽🧹 blackmailed me into this buddy read because despite her unreliable preread she has separation anxiety & loves
June 17, 2026
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop looking for you. I can’t stop wanting you. Images of you fill my brain every second of every day. You’re everywhere. Like a song stuck in my head, even though I don’t want you there. I feel like I’m living in a fever dream that I can’t fucking escape.”
This book was such a fun and cute read. In the previous books, I thought Emmett was a low-life man, but how the tables turned. He was such a cute, sweet, caring lover boy. Julia was also a fun character. I didn’t expect any less, considering she’s Theo’s sister. She was also very caring and loving. They were an adorably cute match, my heart melted.
I truly enjoyed this book so much, and Theo’s and Winter’s little scenes made me giggle. I adored the found family trope, they were all so kind and sweet, especially Oma and Opa, they all had such a strong bond. However, I would have loved to see more depth regarding the Bachelor series. I felt it didn’t dive deep enough. Although it was a clever and totally new plotline for a romance book.
This book was such a fun and cute read. In the previous books, I thought Emmett was a low-life man, but how the tables turned. He was such a cute, sweet, caring lover boy. Julia was also a fun character. I didn’t expect any less, considering she’s Theo’s sister. She was also very caring and loving. They were an adorably cute match, my heart melted.
I truly enjoyed this book so much, and Theo’s and Winter’s little scenes made me giggle. I adored the found family trope, they were all so kind and sweet, especially Oma and Opa, they all had such a strong bond. However, I would have loved to see more depth regarding the Bachelor series. I felt it didn’t dive deep enough. Although it was a clever and totally new plotline for a romance book.
May 20, 2026
Thoughts
Elsie did it again!!! I consumed this in 3-4 hours and now I'm jealous of those who still get to experience this first time! I may be biased but I really loved this, it was a tad slow in comparison to her other writings but plot wise it was the perfect pacing for it. This might be my first ever reality TV plot read that I actually ATE UP! Another thing that makes me feel an attachment to her books and writing is that you'll always get a sense of found family feel because the other characters are sprinkled throughout her books and I just love that keeps it going throughout her books. Can't wait for the rest of the series!
Plot Summary
Bull rider Emmett Bush joins a reality dating show to save his family’s struggling farm, treating the whole thing like a job rather than a chance at love, everything changes when he meets Julia Silva, the sharp-tongued location consultant who’s completely off limits.
As their chemistry grows behind the scenes, Emmett realises he’s fallen in love—just not with one of the contestants he’s supposed to be dating.
My Bookstagram
Elsie did it again!!! I consumed this in 3-4 hours and now I'm jealous of those who still get to experience this first time! I may be biased but I really loved this, it was a tad slow in comparison to her other writings but plot wise it was the perfect pacing for it. This might be my first ever reality TV plot read that I actually ATE UP! Another thing that makes me feel an attachment to her books and writing is that you'll always get a sense of found family feel because the other characters are sprinkled throughout her books and I just love that keeps it going throughout her books. Can't wait for the rest of the series!
Plot Summary
Bull rider Emmett Bush joins a reality dating show to save his family’s struggling farm, treating the whole thing like a job rather than a chance at love, everything changes when he meets Julia Silva, the sharp-tongued location consultant who’s completely off limits.
As their chemistry grows behind the scenes, Emmett realises he’s fallen in love—just not with one of the contestants he’s supposed to be dating.
My Bookstagram
May 25, 2026
✨Fantastic. The perfect cowboy romance with a reality dating setting that absolutely melted my heart.✨
First off, it amazes me how Elsie Silver can keep writing romances that hit me in the heart. Every book she writes never misses, she truly is a gem of an author.
For example, I loved this unique setting. The male lead is a reality TV bachelor. Hello??? That's so interesting and fresh. Combined with the forbidden aspect of secretly dating one of the crew members and said crew member being your rival's little sister.... I mean, can you get any juicer than that? Reality TV gives me a headache, so being able to read about it and experience all the drama that way was such a treat. Honestly, full marks for the setting and the outside plot besides the romance.
Moving on to the romance of this book, I have to say it was a bit dry for me. At least the buildup of it. Most of the page time seemed to be more focused on the outside plot and the ins and outs of filming the show. I wish there were more quiet moments with just Emmet and Julia. Besides that, the romance really was quite sweet and satisfying. I just wish there was more buildup and getting to know each other and less detail about filming.
One last thing, I absolutely adore that Elsie Silver's different worlds are all combined in some way or another. I was greatly amused that Julia Silva was Theo Silva's little sister and that we got to see a rivalry between him and Emmett. I love a crossover and ES does a tastefully every time.
4.5 stars. ✨
First off, it amazes me how Elsie Silver can keep writing romances that hit me in the heart. Every book she writes never misses, she truly is a gem of an author.
For example, I loved this unique setting. The male lead is a reality TV bachelor. Hello??? That's so interesting and fresh. Combined with the forbidden aspect of secretly dating one of the crew members and said crew member being your rival's little sister.... I mean, can you get any juicer than that? Reality TV gives me a headache, so being able to read about it and experience all the drama that way was such a treat. Honestly, full marks for the setting and the outside plot besides the romance.
Moving on to the romance of this book, I have to say it was a bit dry for me. At least the buildup of it. Most of the page time seemed to be more focused on the outside plot and the ins and outs of filming the show. I wish there were more quiet moments with just Emmet and Julia. Besides that, the romance really was quite sweet and satisfying. I just wish there was more buildup and getting to know each other and less detail about filming.
One last thing, I absolutely adore that Elsie Silver's different worlds are all combined in some way or another. I was greatly amused that Julia Silva was Theo Silva's little sister and that we got to see a rivalry between him and Emmett. I love a crossover and ES does a tastefully every time.
4.5 stars. ✨
May 20, 2026
WOW WOW WOW!! This book was written for me specifically - The messy Bachelor reality TV vibes x small town cowboy romance. The flirting. The punch to the gut backstory. The banter. The charm. This was achingly romantic and deeply vulnerable.
I am going to gobble up the playboy shameless flirt turned lovesick puppy with nothing but heart eyes. every. single. time.
I have never been prouder of the fact that my name is Tina! <3
I am going to gobble up the playboy shameless flirt turned lovesick puppy with nothing but heart eyes. every. single. time.
I have never been prouder of the fact that my name is Tina! <3
June 15, 2026
“She’s changed me profoundly, deeply. She’s captured my heart and altered my entire mindset. She’s left an indelible mark on my soul, brought back to life a part of me that I didn’t even realize had died.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“sᴘᴇᴇᴄʜʟᴇss” (ғᴇᴀᴛ. ᴛᴏʀɪ ᴋᴇʟʟʏ) x ᴅᴀɴ + sʜᴀʏ
0:40 ──♥───────── 3:28
First off, I’m ngl I was super iffy going into this one. 😭 Knowing there was tension between Emmett and Theo had me stressed because Theo is literally my definition of a top-tier book boyfriend. 🙈 I was scared I’d come away with a bad image of him after seeing things from a different perspective. And okay… 🙄🤚🏼 my view of him shifted a little, but I could also understand where he was coming from since he didn’t have the full picture. Anyway... it's safe to say his #1 ranking stays firmly in place
Now onto the actual story. 😏 I am not a reality dating show girl. At all. 😭 Like genuinely not even a little bit. I know, I know, I’m lame. 😭🙄 But I cannot stand unnecessary drama, so I went into this with pretty low expectations. Not because I doubted Elsie Silver—I’ll read literally anything that woman writes—but because the premise just wasn’t my thing.
What surprised me most was that even though the reality show was the foundation of the story, it never felt overwhelming. There honestly wasn’t as much focus on the behind-the-scenes reality TV aspect as I expected. I wasn’t mad about that personally, but I could see why some readers were wishing there had been more of it. 🤷🏼♀️ What the show did do, though, was create so much tension and so many obstacles that it made every interaction between Julia and Emmett feel ten times more intense. The forbidden aspect? The yearning? The sneaking around? Absolutely immaculate. 😭🤌🏼
OH and Richard? I HATE YOU 😭 seriously nasty little creep.
I really appreciated Emmett’s character. On the surface, he comes across as arrogant, cocky, and a little rough around the edges, but once you actually get to know him, you realize he isn’t nearly as prickly as everyone makes him out to be. Learning more about his past made so much of his behavior make sense, and honestly, it just made my heart hurt for him. Underneath all the rumors and assumptions, he was genuinely one of the good guys.
And he was FUNNY.
The banter between him and Julia was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Their chemistry felt effortless from the beginning, even when they were driving each other crazy.
The slow burn in this book was absolutely insane. 😭 The tension was unreal. There was so much at stake, and every little moment between them felt important. Emmett’s desperation had me absolutely feral because this man had never felt this way about anyone before. He didn’t want someone. He wanted Julia.
I loved that their relationship developed through friendship and trust first. They slowly became the people who saw beneath each other’s walls, and I think that’s what made their connection feel so believable. They understood parts of each other that nobody else seemed to notice, and that only made them want each other more. Watching them become each other’s safe place was so heartwarming.
And his family... oh I absolutely adored the Bush family. 🥹 Oma and Opa completely stole my heart. Their love for each other, their love for Emmett, and the way the entire family showed up for one another was so wholesome. I loved the sibling dynamics and how supportive they all were (despite constantly teasing each other 🤣)
And of course, getting little glimpses of Theo, Winter, and their babies made me ridiculously happy. 🫶🏼
By the end, I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up. Richard got exactly what he deserved, which was incredibly satisfying. 🙂↕️ And while the reality-show storyline would never have been my first choice, Elsie somehow made me care way more than I expected. 🫶🏼
Am I actually considering putting Emmett Bush in my number two Elsie Silver man spot??????
And as for that next book?
...Parker + student/professor vibes potentially?? 👀 say less
favorite quotes ↓
“His touch turns reverent as his palm slides over my sternum, achingly slow. His brows furrow in concentration as he stares at his hand, fingers splayed over my collarbone, my chest rising and falling beneath him. And then he sighs. ‘You’re ruining me, Jules.’”
“Overall, Julia Silva has me acting like a feral dog, and I’m at a loss for how to get myself back under control.”
“The reason I haven’t been out with anyone else is because none of them are you.”
“Because for her? I’d burn.”
“I want you,” he confesses, voice raw and low. “All of you. Every last inch. Any little bit of attention you’ll give me. I want it all.”
things to know about the book ↓
🎥 enemies → lovers
🎥 brother’s rival
🎥 reality dating show
🎥 cowboy MMC
🎥 slow burn
🎥 forced proximity
🎥 secret relationship
🎥 yearning & pining
🎥 he falls first and HARD
🎥 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 25, 28, 33, 36, 39
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 💙🤠 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
here we goooooo. buddy reading with my girl Tori!! i've seen SUCH mixed reviews from so many friends so i really don't know what to expect
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“sᴘᴇᴇᴄʜʟᴇss” (ғᴇᴀᴛ. ᴛᴏʀɪ ᴋᴇʟʟʏ) x ᴅᴀɴ + sʜᴀʏ
0:40 ──♥───────── 3:28
First off, I’m ngl I was super iffy going into this one. 😭 Knowing there was tension between Emmett and Theo had me stressed because Theo is literally my definition of a top-tier book boyfriend. 🙈 I was scared I’d come away with a bad image of him after seeing things from a different perspective. And okay… 🙄🤚🏼 my view of him shifted a little, but I could also understand where he was coming from since he didn’t have the full picture. Anyway... it's safe to say his #1 ranking stays firmly in place
Now onto the actual story. 😏 I am not a reality dating show girl. At all. 😭 Like genuinely not even a little bit. I know, I know, I’m lame. 😭🙄 But I cannot stand unnecessary drama, so I went into this with pretty low expectations. Not because I doubted Elsie Silver—I’ll read literally anything that woman writes—but because the premise just wasn’t my thing.
What surprised me most was that even though the reality show was the foundation of the story, it never felt overwhelming. There honestly wasn’t as much focus on the behind-the-scenes reality TV aspect as I expected. I wasn’t mad about that personally, but I could see why some readers were wishing there had been more of it. 🤷🏼♀️ What the show did do, though, was create so much tension and so many obstacles that it made every interaction between Julia and Emmett feel ten times more intense. The forbidden aspect? The yearning? The sneaking around? Absolutely immaculate. 😭🤌🏼
OH and Richard? I HATE YOU 😭 seriously nasty little creep.
I really appreciated Emmett’s character. On the surface, he comes across as arrogant, cocky, and a little rough around the edges, but once you actually get to know him, you realize he isn’t nearly as prickly as everyone makes him out to be. Learning more about his past made so much of his behavior make sense, and honestly, it just made my heart hurt for him. Underneath all the rumors and assumptions, he was genuinely one of the good guys.
And he was FUNNY.
The banter between him and Julia was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Their chemistry felt effortless from the beginning, even when they were driving each other crazy.
The slow burn in this book was absolutely insane. 😭 The tension was unreal. There was so much at stake, and every little moment between them felt important. Emmett’s desperation had me absolutely feral because this man had never felt this way about anyone before. He didn’t want someone. He wanted Julia.
I loved that their relationship developed through friendship and trust first. They slowly became the people who saw beneath each other’s walls, and I think that’s what made their connection feel so believable. They understood parts of each other that nobody else seemed to notice, and that only made them want each other more. Watching them become each other’s safe place was so heartwarming.
And his family... oh I absolutely adored the Bush family. 🥹 Oma and Opa completely stole my heart. Their love for each other, their love for Emmett, and the way the entire family showed up for one another was so wholesome. I loved the sibling dynamics and how supportive they all were (despite constantly teasing each other 🤣)
And of course, getting little glimpses of Theo, Winter, and their babies made me ridiculously happy. 🫶🏼
By the end, I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up. Richard got exactly what he deserved, which was incredibly satisfying. 🙂↕️ And while the reality-show storyline would never have been my first choice, Elsie somehow made me care way more than I expected. 🫶🏼
Am I actually considering putting Emmett Bush in my number two Elsie Silver man spot??????
And as for that next book?
...Parker + student/professor vibes potentially?? 👀 say less
favorite quotes ↓
“His touch turns reverent as his palm slides over my sternum, achingly slow. His brows furrow in concentration as he stares at his hand, fingers splayed over my collarbone, my chest rising and falling beneath him. And then he sighs. ‘You’re ruining me, Jules.’”
“Overall, Julia Silva has me acting like a feral dog, and I’m at a loss for how to get myself back under control.”
“The reason I haven’t been out with anyone else is because none of them are you.”
“Because for her? I’d burn.”
“I want you,” he confesses, voice raw and low. “All of you. Every last inch. Any little bit of attention you’ll give me. I want it all.”
things to know about the book ↓
🎥 enemies → lovers
🎥 brother’s rival
🎥 reality dating show
🎥 cowboy MMC
🎥 slow burn
🎥 forced proximity
🎥 secret relationship
🎥 yearning & pining
🎥 he falls first and HARD
🎥 dual POV
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 25, 28, 33, 36, 39
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 💙🤠 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
here we goooooo. buddy reading with my girl Tori!! i've seen SUCH mixed reviews from so many friends so i really don't know what to expect
May 30, 2026
Elsie writes ✍🏼 I read 🙇🏻♀️
“WELCOME TO ROMANCE RANCH! Where ten lucky ladies are going to be courting our cowboy, professional bull rider Emmett Bush…" 🤠💘✨
The QUEEN OF COWBOYS is back with a brand-new series and I couldn’t be more excited 😝
I have been waiting for Emmett’s story. I just knew I was going to love him from his previous cameo roles and he delivered ALL the goods!! This book was everything I was hoping it to be: fun, filled with banter and an emotional depth. Elise never fails to balance out the laughs with the sweet and tender moments, and this book was a prime example of that.
Fever dream is a small-town western rom-com featuring a forbidden, rivals-to-lovers romance 💕 Bull rider, Emmett, enters a dating show in order to save the family farm - but he’d much rather to ride into the sunset with the location consultant, Julia, instead 👀
Professional bull rider, Emmett Bush, is the leading man on a new reality dating show, Romance Ranch - he’s not looking for love, he just needs the hefty paycheck to save his family’s farm from bankruptcy.
Enter: Julia Silva (aka: Trouble. Temptation. Tranquility)
As the location consultant on set and sister to his greatest rival, Julia is totally off-limits. She’s been warned off the cocky, yet infuriatingly handsome bachelor, but when unexpected situations arise, and a little help of some forced proximity, mutual dislike turns to something else, something new, something exciting 👀 and, oh so forbidden 🚫
Problem is, he’s fallen hard. And, it’s not for one of the contestants…
Role on the secret rendezvous 🤭
Emmett. My man 🙌🏽 I literally love this man with all my heart. I want to give him the biggest hug. I want to be hugged by him. He is a man of contradictions. Strong, yet vulnerable. Tough, yet caring. Defensive, yet thoughtful. He has swagger and flirtation nailed, yet he is the most devoted man, holding on to a traumatic childhood. A adored every part of him and my heart ached for the little boy he carried so close to his heart.
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop looking for you. I can’t stop wanting you. Images of you fill my brain every second of every day. You’re everywhere. Like a song stuck in my head, even though I don’t want you there. I feel like I’m living in a fever dream that I can’t fucking escape.” 🎶💭💖
Julia was fiery, sassy, and oh so loveable. I loved their shared past and how this made for a deeper, more vulnerable connection between them. My heart broke for what she had gone through and how it affected her life, but I admired her strength and resilience. She was Emmetts equal in every way. They balanced each other out so well, and their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS 📈 Most of all, I loved that she didn’t take Emmett on face value, she saw the real him.
“The real kicker is that you, Emmett Brandt, might be the only man in the world I’d trust not to take advantage of me, even at my most vulnerable. So, I guess the reason I haven’t been out with anyone else is because none of them are you.” 🥹💖✨
This pairing felt natural from the word go. Yet, the slow progression of their relationship whilst Emmett was filming the dating show created so much tension and yearning as they tried to combat their feelings. I couldn’t get enough of their short intimate interactions. The forbidden aspect definitely heightened the stakes. I feel like Elise had a really good time writing this romance, I could FEEL the fun, light-hearted vibes jumping off the page, with so many laugh out loud moments! The cacti incident being a favourite of mine 😂🌵 However, I absolutely adored their shared past vulnerability between this pair. The way they were so open and honest with each other the whole way along was so refreshing. They were totally besotted, and I loved every second of it!
Emmett’s family also deserves a special mention. They were unreal 😭 absolute legends! The bond between them was so pure and heartwarming. I particularly enjoyed seeing the moments when Emmett and Park would crawl into their special space; cuteness overload 🥹 And Oma and Opa? Where do I begin! I absolutely adored these two! This is the kind of family everyone deserves 🥰
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series. I am so happy to see some of our favourite characters from previous series and I can’t wait to see who we will meet in the rest of this series. Queen Elsie lives on… 🙇🏻♀️
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
“WELCOME TO ROMANCE RANCH! Where ten lucky ladies are going to be courting our cowboy, professional bull rider Emmett Bush…" 🤠💘✨
The QUEEN OF COWBOYS is back with a brand-new series and I couldn’t be more excited 😝
I have been waiting for Emmett’s story. I just knew I was going to love him from his previous cameo roles and he delivered ALL the goods!! This book was everything I was hoping it to be: fun, filled with banter and an emotional depth. Elise never fails to balance out the laughs with the sweet and tender moments, and this book was a prime example of that.
Fever dream is a small-town western rom-com featuring a forbidden, rivals-to-lovers romance 💕 Bull rider, Emmett, enters a dating show in order to save the family farm - but he’d much rather to ride into the sunset with the location consultant, Julia, instead 👀
Professional bull rider, Emmett Bush, is the leading man on a new reality dating show, Romance Ranch - he’s not looking for love, he just needs the hefty paycheck to save his family’s farm from bankruptcy.
Enter: Julia Silva (aka: Trouble. Temptation. Tranquility)
As the location consultant on set and sister to his greatest rival, Julia is totally off-limits. She’s been warned off the cocky, yet infuriatingly handsome bachelor, but when unexpected situations arise, and a little help of some forced proximity, mutual dislike turns to something else, something new, something exciting 👀 and, oh so forbidden 🚫
Problem is, he’s fallen hard. And, it’s not for one of the contestants…
Role on the secret rendezvous 🤭
Emmett. My man 🙌🏽 I literally love this man with all my heart. I want to give him the biggest hug. I want to be hugged by him. He is a man of contradictions. Strong, yet vulnerable. Tough, yet caring. Defensive, yet thoughtful. He has swagger and flirtation nailed, yet he is the most devoted man, holding on to a traumatic childhood. A adored every part of him and my heart ached for the little boy he carried so close to his heart.
“I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop looking for you. I can’t stop wanting you. Images of you fill my brain every second of every day. You’re everywhere. Like a song stuck in my head, even though I don’t want you there. I feel like I’m living in a fever dream that I can’t fucking escape.” 🎶💭💖
Julia was fiery, sassy, and oh so loveable. I loved their shared past and how this made for a deeper, more vulnerable connection between them. My heart broke for what she had gone through and how it affected her life, but I admired her strength and resilience. She was Emmetts equal in every way. They balanced each other out so well, and their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS 📈 Most of all, I loved that she didn’t take Emmett on face value, she saw the real him.
“The real kicker is that you, Emmett Brandt, might be the only man in the world I’d trust not to take advantage of me, even at my most vulnerable. So, I guess the reason I haven’t been out with anyone else is because none of them are you.” 🥹💖✨
This pairing felt natural from the word go. Yet, the slow progression of their relationship whilst Emmett was filming the dating show created so much tension and yearning as they tried to combat their feelings. I couldn’t get enough of their short intimate interactions. The forbidden aspect definitely heightened the stakes. I feel like Elise had a really good time writing this romance, I could FEEL the fun, light-hearted vibes jumping off the page, with so many laugh out loud moments! The cacti incident being a favourite of mine 😂🌵 However, I absolutely adored their shared past vulnerability between this pair. The way they were so open and honest with each other the whole way along was so refreshing. They were totally besotted, and I loved every second of it!
Emmett’s family also deserves a special mention. They were unreal 😭 absolute legends! The bond between them was so pure and heartwarming. I particularly enjoyed seeing the moments when Emmett and Park would crawl into their special space; cuteness overload 🥹 And Oma and Opa? Where do I begin! I absolutely adored these two! This is the kind of family everyone deserves 🥰
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series. I am so happy to see some of our favourite characters from previous series and I can’t wait to see who we will meet in the rest of this series. Queen Elsie lives on… 🙇🏻♀️
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
June 2, 2026
😅😅 I have to keep in mind that I historically have been very underwhelmed by the first books in her series & they have always gotten better from there.
I really liked a few chapters of this. It was overall entertaining enough to read quickly. But I really disliked the smut & a lot of their connection felt oddly shallow. It shouldn’t have, based on their history and what they’ve been through, but it did. The highlight of this book was the Theo cameos.
I really liked a few chapters of this. It was overall entertaining enough to read quickly. But I really disliked the smut & a lot of their connection felt oddly shallow. It shouldn’t have, based on their history and what they’ve been through, but it did. The highlight of this book was the Theo cameos.
April 9, 2026
Elsie never lets me down, possibly my favorite book of hers yet
RTC🌟
RTC🌟
June 1, 2026
wtf did i just read. this guy isnt a manwhore, he's scared of woman and the woman isnt a girls girl in the slightest sense and is kinda...selfish. SORRY. i had to say it😭 no offence to anyone who loved this one, but it wasnt for me. That being said, i think emmett is pretty damn sweet.
i liked the reality tv concept though and those memo slips added a nice touch! not to mention the delectable art in the pages😫 buttt why were so many despicable lines thrown in this book?? like the fmc referring to the mmc's movement on her ass (heads up, hes picking out prickles) as if 'her ass was a picasso painting' GIrlLL stop.
Theo is just a a big goofy asshole and not even in an attractive way, hes so fucking stupid it puts me off so bad. and aside front that he has no morals or common sense and literally is a horrible human to other people including his sister. it reminds me of the 'good looking men override the men with a brain' apocalypse happening in the world rn. pls if anyone also has a vendetta against theo, talk to me and make me feel better.
elsie silver i beg of you to write normal smut that isnt filled with tiktok tropes. PLS.
anyone who believes Theo Silva is public boyfriend enemy #1, is instantly moved to the top of my admiration list. that being said, i did NOT say what Angelina claims in her review, atleast in those words anywho! BR this w angelinaaaa my beautiful, funny, sarcastic Audrey and Orwell-loving muse 🦄⛓️🧁🧚♂️🫀🏴☠️🦄🧁🫦
thank you for reading this w me😛🫦
it happened. the line that confirmed for me that emmett is 100x better than theo. when julia said she was confused to why emmett says he hates theo but speaks highly of him to his family. nothing else.
bro idk if anyone has read reckless but julia just dropped this like "I don’t know where Winter was when this baby was
made, because her genes were not in the room."
AND ITS SO BADDD😭😭😭😭WHAT KINDA COKE IS SHE ON😭 winter was the one who went through pregnancy alone and raised the baby by herself for a year cus her father dumb as fuck, and clearly so is his sister cus WTFF
but also does anyone think, theo and emmett's personalities dont match their looks??/ they should swap looks.
i liked the reality tv concept though and those memo slips added a nice touch! not to mention the delectable art in the pages😫 buttt why were so many despicable lines thrown in this book?? like the fmc referring to the mmc's movement on her ass (heads up, hes picking out prickles) as if 'her ass was a picasso painting' GIrlLL stop.
Theo is just a a big goofy asshole and not even in an attractive way, hes so fucking stupid it puts me off so bad. and aside front that he has no morals or common sense and literally is a horrible human to other people including his sister. it reminds me of the 'good looking men override the men with a brain' apocalypse happening in the world rn. pls if anyone also has a vendetta against theo, talk to me and make me feel better.
elsie silver i beg of you to write normal smut that isnt filled with tiktok tropes. PLS.
anyone who believes Theo Silva is public boyfriend enemy #1, is instantly moved to the top of my admiration list. that being said, i did NOT say what Angelina claims in her review, atleast in those words anywho! BR this w angelinaaaa my beautiful, funny, sarcastic Audrey and Orwell-loving muse 🦄⛓️🧁🧚♂️🫀🏴☠️🦄🧁🫦
thank you for reading this w me😛🫦
it happened. the line that confirmed for me that emmett is 100x better than theo. when julia said she was confused to why emmett says he hates theo but speaks highly of him to his family. nothing else.
bro idk if anyone has read reckless but julia just dropped this like "I don’t know where Winter was when this baby was
made, because her genes were not in the room."
AND ITS SO BADDD😭😭😭😭WHAT KINDA COKE IS SHE ON😭 winter was the one who went through pregnancy alone and raised the baby by herself for a year cus her father dumb as fuck, and clearly so is his sister cus WTFF
but also does anyone think, theo and emmett's personalities dont match their looks??/ they should swap looks.
May 24, 2026
I don't know what this says about me but good god I love a fictional panty thief 😮💨🫦
May 27, 2026
3.54
Ok so I was just a teeny 🤏🏻bit disappointed in this one. I really loved both the FMC and MMC, but the plot itself didn’t fully work for me. I definitely enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I did love getting to see Theo and Winter again, though. One thing I really appreciated was how comfortable Emmett felt being himself around Julia, and how safe Julia felt with him.
I think I just wanted more romance between them. Because they had to sneak around so much, their relationship felt a little rushed to me. And honestly, I hated seeing Emmett constantly surrounded by the other girls in the competition. I love Elsie Silver, and cannot wait to read the next one in the series.
Ok so I was just a teeny 🤏🏻bit disappointed in this one. I really loved both the FMC and MMC, but the plot itself didn’t fully work for me. I definitely enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I did love getting to see Theo and Winter again, though. One thing I really appreciated was how comfortable Emmett felt being himself around Julia, and how safe Julia felt with him.
I think I just wanted more romance between them. Because they had to sneak around so much, their relationship felt a little rushed to me. And honestly, I hated seeing Emmett constantly surrounded by the other girls in the competition. I love Elsie Silver, and cannot wait to read the next one in the series.
Currently Reading
June 26, 2026From the moment he picked pricles out of her ass I should have known that book is not for me 😭😭😭 Seriously guys I am crawling to the end 🤧
Pre-read:
I've had my eyes on this book for a while, but academic life got me good 😭 Now I'm finally free 😻 And I miss you all so much! Love youuu 💖
Pre-read:
I've had my eyes on this book for a while, but academic life got me good 😭 Now I'm finally free 😻 And I miss you all so much! Love youuu 💖
June 9, 2026
Emmett a bull rider joins a reality dating show to save his family farm, but instead of falling for one of the contestants, he ends up falling for a woman he shouldn’t, his rival’s sister, Julia. As they spend more time together, their fake setup turns into something real.
I really enjoyed this one. The idea was fun and felt a bit different, which made it easy to get into. I liked the story and the romance, and it kept me interested the whole way through. A really enjoyable read that I’m glad I picked up.
I really enjoyed this one. The idea was fun and felt a bit different, which made it easy to get into. I liked the story and the romance, and it kept me interested the whole way through. A really enjoyable read that I’m glad I picked up.
May 22, 2026
4 stars
I was excited to get into a new series from Elsie Silver! Fever Dream is the first book in her ‘Emerald Lake’ series and features two characters we’ve met before. Theo Silva’s little sister, Julia. And his nemesis, Emmett Bush.
I adore the forbidden romance trope, and this was forbidden-ish on multiple fronts. The main one is a breach of contract. Emmett is starting on a reality show that features him as a bachelor of sorts, and Julia is working on the show. It’s about to get messy.
I do not watch a lot of reality TV. I don’t watch a lot of TV in general. But I still found this aspect of the book fun. My favorite part of the book was how devoted and in love Emmett was with Julia. He did such a great job of focusing on the reason he’s doing this show- it’s a good reason- and not hurting her through the mess.
I love Elsie Silver’s writing and the way she can pull you into a story. This was no exception. Though this was not my favorite of Elsie’s it was still a solid story and I enjoyed it so much!
I was excited to get into a new series from Elsie Silver! Fever Dream is the first book in her ‘Emerald Lake’ series and features two characters we’ve met before. Theo Silva’s little sister, Julia. And his nemesis, Emmett Bush.
I adore the forbidden romance trope, and this was forbidden-ish on multiple fronts. The main one is a breach of contract. Emmett is starting on a reality show that features him as a bachelor of sorts, and Julia is working on the show. It’s about to get messy.
I do not watch a lot of reality TV. I don’t watch a lot of TV in general. But I still found this aspect of the book fun. My favorite part of the book was how devoted and in love Emmett was with Julia. He did such a great job of focusing on the reason he’s doing this show- it’s a good reason- and not hurting her through the mess.
I love Elsie Silver’s writing and the way she can pull you into a story. This was no exception. Though this was not my favorite of Elsie’s it was still a solid story and I enjoyed it so much!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Teddy Hamilton & Julia Goldani Telles
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 10h 53m
June 1, 2026
Genius idea of a COWBOY dating show! But the mmc overshadowed by Daddy Theo Silva?!!
💙 🤠 💙 🤠 💙
Rodeo Emmett is trying to save his family’s farm by entering a COWBOY Bachelor dating show *sign me up* He’s definitely a bit ashamed of selling his slutty personality on the show but fuck it he needs the cash 💸 little awkward when his rival’s little sister gets hired as a production assistant & he can’t stop following her around!
Secret relationship sprinkled with senseless OW drama! I enjoyed the forbidden relationship and budding camaraderie between Emmett and Julia 💙 The premise did set up for some other women drama that wasn’t my favorite. I actually felt bad for those women who just wanted a cowboy of their own!
The biggest issue for me was that Emmett’s character felt a little like every bad boy with a soft heart. I feel bad for saying this but…his character felt a little bland.
🤠 he wants to dislike her but she’s inescapable
💙 when he pulls cactus pricks out of her bum cheeks
🤠 she’s recovering from a traumatizing event
💙 they bond over the hatred of the show
My favourite moments were definitely Theo & Winter cameos! I’m sorry but I’m still not over the Reckless vibes & the Daddy perfection that is Theo.
As a die hard Elsie stan I’m incredibly excited for the new series though! Great writing & perfect summer small town vibes. Emerald Lake is set in my province 🇨🇦 and I’m so curious the pairing we’ll see next. Maybe Parker & her professor!
rival’s little sister
forbidden romance
bad boy mmc
(small) age gap
workplace romance
forced proximity
family fun/teasing
small town
HEA ✨
💙 🤠 💙 🤠 💙
Rodeo Emmett is trying to save his family’s farm by entering a COWBOY Bachelor dating show *sign me up* He’s definitely a bit ashamed of selling his slutty personality on the show but fuck it he needs the cash 💸 little awkward when his rival’s little sister gets hired as a production assistant & he can’t stop following her around!
Secret relationship sprinkled with senseless OW drama! I enjoyed the forbidden relationship and budding camaraderie between Emmett and Julia 💙 The premise did set up for some other women drama that wasn’t my favorite. I actually felt bad for those women who just wanted a cowboy of their own!
The biggest issue for me was that Emmett’s character felt a little like every bad boy with a soft heart. I feel bad for saying this but…his character felt a little bland.
🤠 he wants to dislike her but she’s inescapable
💙 when he pulls cactus pricks out of her bum cheeks
🤠 she’s recovering from a traumatizing event
💙 they bond over the hatred of the show
My favourite moments were definitely Theo & Winter cameos! I’m sorry but I’m still not over the Reckless vibes & the Daddy perfection that is Theo.
As a die hard Elsie stan I’m incredibly excited for the new series though! Great writing & perfect summer small town vibes. Emerald Lake is set in my province 🇨🇦 and I’m so curious the pairing we’ll see next. Maybe Parker & her professor!
rival’s little sister
forbidden romance
bad boy mmc
(small) age gap
workplace romance
forced proximity
family fun/teasing
small town
HEA ✨
Want to Read
August 23, 2025₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:
AHH ELSIE SILVER IS RELEASING AGAIN!! 👀
rose hill wasn’t my favorite compared to chessnut springs (still need to read her first series) but still so excited to read thisss!!💜💜
AHH ELSIE SILVER IS RELEASING AGAIN!! 👀
rose hill wasn’t my favorite compared to chessnut springs (still need to read her first series) but still so excited to read thisss!!💜💜
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A new Elsie Silver series!? Sign me up!
This one was such a solid start following Emmett as he is the new bachelor on a dating show. He's only doing it for the money to help out his grandparents' farm, so he's not actually interested in falling in love. But when his rival's sister ends up being the location scout for the show, he can't help but want to spend more time with her...
There is a bit of a complex history between Emmett and Julia, which makes Julia a bit nervous around him but also with a feeling of trust. They spend a lot of time together and Julia finds herself getting jealous of his time spent with the other girls, even when he literally couldn't take his eyes off of her.
The first 50% off this one took me a bit to get into. We were told a lot about how much of a player Emmett was, but I'm not sure how much I believed that as we never saw him act that way. I also don't love reality tv books since they mostly rely on exaggerated characters/stereotypes for the sake of the plot But once we got Julia and Emmett exploring their insane chemistry and they were testing the boundaries of their forbidden relationship, I was hooked. The chemistry was so intense and I could not get enough when they finally decided to stop ignoring it! I loved the stakes and the sneaking around. And I loved how much Theo we got to see in this one!
Overall I really ended up enjoyed this start to Elsie's new series and I can't wait to see what comes next!
This one was such a solid start following Emmett as he is the new bachelor on a dating show. He's only doing it for the money to help out his grandparents' farm, so he's not actually interested in falling in love. But when his rival's sister ends up being the location scout for the show, he can't help but want to spend more time with her...
There is a bit of a complex history between Emmett and Julia, which makes Julia a bit nervous around him but also with a feeling of trust. They spend a lot of time together and Julia finds herself getting jealous of his time spent with the other girls, even when he literally couldn't take his eyes off of her.
The first 50% off this one took me a bit to get into. We were told a lot about how much of a player Emmett was, but I'm not sure how much I believed that as we never saw him act that way. I also don't love reality tv books since they mostly rely on exaggerated characters/stereotypes for the sake of the plot But once we got Julia and Emmett exploring their insane chemistry and they were testing the boundaries of their forbidden relationship, I was hooked. The chemistry was so intense and I could not get enough when they finally decided to stop ignoring it! I loved the stakes and the sneaking around. And I loved how much Theo we got to see in this one!
Overall I really ended up enjoyed this start to Elsie's new series and I can't wait to see what comes next!
June 6, 2026
MARKED SAFE FROM THIRD ACT BREAKUP😌 It’s Elsie, so I’m always gonna read it, BUT I fear nothing is going to beat the charm of Chestnut Springs for me. This was cute and entertaining… I just wish it was a bit longer so the characters could feel more established.
May 24, 2026
✨ Spectacular ..give me 14 of them right now ✨
4.5 ⭐️’s this was everything I needed in a cowboy romance!!! The plot, setting, tension and slow burn was sooooo good I couldn’t put this book down!!
Julia and Emmett may be one of my fave Elsie Silver couples!! The way they were both down bad for each other , yet their relationship had so much depth!! The way Emmet was so closed off and thought less of himself in the beginning , but changed and fell In love with the Julia was everything!! A cowboy with a filthy mouth who would burn down the world for her will get me every single time 🙂↕️
Julia!! She was baddie through and through ! She had the man wrapped around her finger!! I am obsessed with them!!
The found family in this was so good as well!! I will never be getting over Oma and Opa!
Also getting all those Winter and Theo crumbs had me emotional!! 🥲
Also what are the chances that we will be getting Evan’s book next?!! That tattooed man has me so intrigued!!
“We are going to be good aren’t we?” 🩵
4.5 ⭐️’s this was everything I needed in a cowboy romance!!! The plot, setting, tension and slow burn was sooooo good I couldn’t put this book down!!
Julia and Emmett may be one of my fave Elsie Silver couples!! The way they were both down bad for each other , yet their relationship had so much depth!! The way Emmet was so closed off and thought less of himself in the beginning , but changed and fell In love with the Julia was everything!! A cowboy with a filthy mouth who would burn down the world for her will get me every single time 🙂↕️
Julia!! She was baddie through and through ! She had the man wrapped around her finger!! I am obsessed with them!!
The found family in this was so good as well!! I will never be getting over Oma and Opa!
Also getting all those Winter and Theo crumbs had me emotional!! 🥲
Also what are the chances that we will be getting Evan’s book next?!! That tattooed man has me so intrigued!!
“We are going to be good aren’t we?” 🩵
April 26, 2026
hmm….yeah this one wasn’t it. I’ve felt like something has been missing from Elsie’s books personally since the end of the Chesnut Springs series. I just end up not really caring about the characters or the relationship. The best thing about this book was seeing Theo and Winter (my FAVE Elsie couple) but even then that felt so off - it’s hard to explain.
a miss for me! sometimes I miss the times when I loved these books 💔
a miss for me! sometimes I miss the times when I loved these books 💔
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