Reckless

Reckless is a contemporary romance novel by Canadian author Elsie Silver. Originally self-published in 2023, Reckless is the fourth and final installment in Silver’s Chestnut Springs series. Like all the preceding titles, the novel is set in the fictional ranching town of Chestnut Springs, located in Alberta, Canada. The novel traces the evolving romance of main characters Winter Hamilton and Theo Silva. When Winter leaves her abusive husband, she flees to Chestnut Springs to reunite with her sister and start her life over. However, when a one-night stand with the handsome and charming bull rider Theo ends up having long-lasting repercussions, Winter must ask herself what she really wants and needs. Written from Winter’s and Theo’s alternating first-person points of view, the novel explores themes including Small-Town Community as a Place of Scrutiny and Support, The Transformative and Healing Power of Love, and The Tension Between Others’ Expectations and Personal Desires.

This guide refers to the 2024 Bloom Books paperback edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of cursing, sexual content, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, and pregnancy loss.

Plot Summary

Twenty-eight-year-old Winter Hamilton is fed up with her controlling and emotionally abusive husband Rob Valentine. She packs her bags and plans to spend a few days working shifts at Chestnut Springs General Hospital. A furious Rob instigates an argument about their relationship and Winter’s choices when she is on her way out. She decides she must finally leave him and races out.

Winter calls her sister Summer Hamilton on her way to Chestnut Springs. Summer lives in the ranching town with her fiancé Rhett Eaton. Winter and Summer have been estranged for some time, but Winter hopes now is her chance to make things right. Summer is glad to hear from Winter and invites her to the Eatons’ Wishing Well Ranch for a family dinner.

At the dinner, Winter is surprised to see the attractive man she saw at the gas station earlier. His name is Theo Silva and he is a bull rider like Rhett. He also works out at Hamilton Elite, the gym that Summer owns and operates. Winter feels irritated by her attraction to him and his unabashed flirting. However, she accepts Theo’s offer to guide her back to the Rosewood Inn after dinner.

Over drinks at the Rosewood Inn bar, Winter and Theo open up about their hard lives. Then they decide to have a one-night stand, promising to tell no one about the encounter. The night is life-changing for both of them, but they do not speak afterward.

In the days and weeks following, Winter settles into Chestnut Springs with the help of Summer and her new friends Sloane Winthrop and Willa Grant. Then one day, Winter discovers that she is pregnant. She tracks down Theo’s contact information to tell him the news. He doesn’t return her calls and sends dismissive replies to her text messages, including the one where she tells him she is pregnant with her child.

Eighteen months later, Winter is living life as single mother to her infant daughter Vivienne (nicknamed Vivi). The entire Chestnut Springs community supports and helps her, but she tells no one the identity of Vivi’s father. After a rodeo injury, Theo moves in next door to Winter and Vivi. Winter is furious when Theo confronts her about Vivi—asking if he is the father. Together, they realize a terrible mistake has happened: Theo gave his old phone to his employee Geoff and told him to manage his social media accounts and incoming messages. Geoff was the one responding to Winter and never passed her messages to Theo.

Theo apologizes for missing so much of Vivi’s life and promises to do everything he can to help Winter. Winter is hesitant to accept. However, she quickly discovers how nice it is to have Theo around. Finally one night, the co-parents take Vivi to Wishing Well Ranch for dinner and announce their news to the table. Some people are supportive to learn that Theo is the dad, while others are judgmental. Theo defends Winter and insists their opinions are unwanted.

Over the following months, Winter and Theo fall into a routine. They continue to take care of Vivi together, but do not act on their romantic feelings for each other. Meanwhile, Theo’s mother Loretta comes to stay. She helps them with the baby and befriends Winter. On the night of Summer’s wedding, Winter opens up to Loretta about her fraught past while she is getting ready. Loretta is moved and gives Winter a string of pearls.

During the wedding reception, Winter and Theo sneak away from the party to have sex in an empty room. Their connection during the experience makes Winter realize how much she cares about Theo. On the way home, she asks Theo to move in with her and Vivi.

Winter and Theo continue raising Vivi together. Everything is perfect until Rob resurfaces, demanding a paternity test for Vivi. Theo is away from town for a bull-riding competition and is furious when Winter calls to inform him of the papers Rob served her. Rattled, he demands to know if he is really Vivi’s father. A fight ensues. Everyone in Theo’s and Winter’s lives urges them to make amends. Winter realizes she needs Theo and flies out to be with him. The two make amends and profess their love.

Shortly after returning from Theo’s tour, Winter and Theo resolve the paternity issue and file a restraining order against Rob. At the end of Vivi’s first birthday party, Theo takes Winter out for a solo walk, gets down on one knee, and proposes.

Eight months later, Winter, Vivi, and their friends and family attend Theo’s bull-riding championship. Theo is determined to win, as this has been his lifelong goal. Before the competition starts, Winter tells him she is pregnant again. The news makes Theo realize his competition doesn’t matter as much as having a family.