Reckless

Reckless is the fourth and final installment in Silver’s Chestnut Springs series. The title is preceded by the titles Flawless, Heartless, and Powerless. All four of the Chestnut Springs novels are set in Alberta, Canada, in the fictional ranching town of Chestnut Springs. Chestnut Springs is nestled in the Canadian Rockies. This macro setting brings all of the Chestnut Springs characters together, and incites complex interpersonal, familial, and romantic dynamics between them. The idyllic, rural setting also incites Silver’s protracted explorations of the complications and benefits of small-town living.

All four Chestnut Springs novels can function as standalone narratives. However, all of the primary, secondary, and minor characters are residents of the same fictional universe—and are integral members of each other’s lives. The characters that appear in the margins of Flawless, for example, move to center stage in the subsequent titles. Over the course of the series, Silver delves into each of her complex character’s backstories, personal histories, traumas, and longings to present a comprehensive examination of the lives that comprise the Chestnut Springs ranching community.

Flawless is the first book in the series and tells the story of