I enjoyed this one! A PHOTO FINISH is heavier than the last (and only other) Elsie Silver book I read, but it had moments of fun and sweetness as well. Our main character is a new race horse jockey who had an internet relationship with the love interest a few years ago that didn't end well, but now they're forced to spend time together when he shows up at her ranch and is her boss's brother. He's ex-military, goes to therapy, and has PTSD from a traumatic childhood incident. She's the sunshine to his grumpy and their relationship progresses over the course of the book. I've read a couple books now about internet relationships where one party chooses to stay anonymous and neither time did it really sit right with me because it's made to be attractive whereas I think in real life, it would be catfishy and potentially the end of the relationship. That part of the book--which admittedly is a big plot-mover, since it's literally how they met--wasn't my favorite, but overall I enjoyed this!

Thank you to Elsie Silver and Bloombooks via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Calling all horse girls: we’ve got a good romance on our hands! I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did a great job dealing with PTSD, disability, mental health in general, and the complications of romance. I loved the setting and that the plot revolves around horses. The female lead is a jockey! What more could a horse girl like me want from a romance book?

This is the first book I’ve read in the Ruby Creek series, even though it’s the second installment. I didn’t have any trouble getting into the world or understanding character dynamics. I’m excited to pick up the first one in the series and also continue with the third book too!

I love a full-circle, second chance romance. Golddigger85 and Pretty in Purple made me smile, all the way to the end! Pip was a character too, and I'm not a horse person. Can't wait to read more from this author!

I enjoyed this book! It was honestly so much more than I was expecting. It is not my favorite that I’ve read by Elsie but I would definitely still recommend it! I really loved Cole’s mental health journey. It is not too often that you read a book where the mmc struggles with mental health so it was incredibly refreshing to read about his journey and actively see Cole work through things that have been holding him stagnant for years. It was equally as refreshing to see how Violet handled situations and how she also grew as a person.

Here are some tropes you can expect :)

- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Second Chance
- Age Gap
- Forced Proximity

Thank you NetGalley + Bloom Books for a copy of this ARC! 😊

I was expecting a cute, fluffy book just like the first one. However, this was so much more.

This hit me right in the feels; it broke my heart and put me back together. We didn’t just get the sweet feelings, we got real issues, struggles, angst and two characters who loved each other so much they went through hell and back to end up together.

If this wasn’t dual POV, I wouldn’t have liked Cole as much as I did because if you’re looking at him from just an outside perspective you won’t get to see all the hurt, self hate and struggles. Violet never gave up on Cole even when he did himself.

Violet, I mean she’s an Eaton, of course I’m going to fucking adore her immediately.

Also the mental health rep here was amazing to see.

All this to say, I loved this book.

Welcome to Gold Rush Ranch, where the horses are fierce and loyal – but not as much as their riders.

I’m new to Elsie Silver’s romance novels, but so far am loving her no-nonsense female main characters featured in the beginning of this series.

I enjoyed A Photo Finish a lot more than Off to the Races (this one was just as steamy, but in many ways a slower burn due to the dual timeline).

Here, Silver tells the story of Cole and Violet using “now” narrative and “then” flashbacks that reveal how these two have always ended up in the same orbit.

Both Violet and Cole explore what it means to be vulnerable and trust someone with their hearts and the things that they want (or the things they are too scared to want). But, Silver’s take on this is refreshing and A Photo Finish doesn’t feel like every other romance novel.

Tropes:
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Second chance romance
- Dual POV
- Spice for days
- Mental health rep (PTSD, grief)

I read this in less than a day and can’t wait to continue with this series. Thank you to Sourcebooks/Bloom and NetGalley for the eARC of this work. The new covers for this series are absolutely stunning and I can't wait to see this one hit the shelves in July.

A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver is a phenomenal & fascinating small town ranch romance between the grumpy & broody businessman & the vivacious jockey/woman coming into her own with one interesting & unique history. This book brings the emotions, the chemistry, the steam, the humor & there’s horses…could you ask for more??

This is book #2 in the Gold Rush Ranch series, but it could be read as a standalone. However, I did quite enjoy the first book & I was so excited to see Violet get her own story so I did suggest trying other Elsie Silver books too!

A Photo Finish is great for fans of…
🐴 Cowgirl Romance
🐴 Forced Proximity
🐴 Age Gap
🐴 Opposites Attract
🐴 Espitolarian (Internet Pen Pals)
🐴 Disability Representation

I live for the dichotomy of the grumpy hero who’s trying to quietly heal all on his own mixed the exuberant & sunshine woman that is a jockey with a dangerous profession that completely upends his life.

I also am ravenous for epistolarian books with the internet pen pal aspect of this relationship. It adds a fascinating angle & this one delivered its own sizzling twist on that front.

I am always grateful for disability & mental health representation. I thought this was well done & I loved the importance of therapy & its regular occurrence through the story & the healing.

If you love a sweet & steamy emotional rollercoaster of a romance set on a ranch, I highly recommend A Photo Finish.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Bloom Books for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I will be posting to social media & Amazon during release week & add links once I do!

I am already a huge Elsie Silver fan so I was SO excited to get this book from NetGalley!

This is technically the second book in the series but I had no problem skipping ahead to this one - although now I am so excited to read all of the other books in this series!

Cole is a military vet who is struggling with PTSD from his time deployed, and from witnessing his father's death in a horse related accident. Violet is a jockey representing the horse ranch she works on, which happens to be the ranch Cole's family owns. Cole struggles with being around horses because of his fathers accident, so Violet being a jockey brings a lot of challenges.

Violet and Cole's big secret is that they had actually met before! I loved that this story was dual timeline so we got to know all the details from their pervious relationship! This was such a fun read! I read it in about two days because I just couldn't put it down! This story had a lot of spice in it - so people who aren't comfortable with that may want to skip around a bit.

I thought Elsie Silver did a great job representing mental health/PTSD and disability in this story. I loved how she wrote Violet's character to be supportive but also made sure Cole's character didn't feel less than due to his disability.

Tropes I loved:
- small town romance
- second chance
- grumpy/sunshine
- forced proximity

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC!

Cole + Violet are in a league of their own. I absolutely loved 𝑨 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉. I am fully convinced that this is going to be my favorite book in the series. It was flawless. There is honestly not a single thing I would change in this book. I just loved it. I loved the angst, I loved the emotion, and I loved the romance. Cole was the perfect broody, wounded MMC and Violet was the perfect sweet, sunshine FMC. I really enjoyed how everything was revealed throughout this book. I had an idea of where it was going and I was completely wrong, and I loved that. It was a nice change from the predictable. Everything was done so well. I loved it so much and I’m already looking forward to rereading it in the future.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚."

"𝖨 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗇'𝗍. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝗋𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗋, 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗂𝖿𝖿𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗌, 𝖺 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖼. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅. 𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝖨'𝗆 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎, 𝗌𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝖾."

"𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚠. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙽𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚐𝚘𝚊𝚕𝚜, 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜...𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐."

Tropes:
✨ Age Gap
🤫 Secret Identity
💻 Pen Pals
🥰 Second Chance
💘 Broody Wounded Hero
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
🏘️ Small Town
💕 Forced Proximity

I have loved every Elsie Solver book I’ve read and this is no different. This is the second book in the Gold Rush Ranch series. This book follows Violet Eaton who we know from the Chestnut Spring series. I am a sucker for a small town romance series, and love a good grumpy sunshine trope so I LOVED Violet and Coles story. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series, it is shaping up to be just as amazing as Chestnut Springs.


Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elsie Silver does not miss! ♥️

This book was so much better than the first. I loved Violet and Cole’s story – especially Cole’s mental health journey! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! 🐎

- forced proximity
- small town romance
- second chance
- grumpy/sunshine
- mental health rep
- dual POV

Thank you NetGalley x Bloom Books for a copy of this ARC 🥰

I definitely didn’t love this one as much as others in the series, but it was a very fast read. I enjoyed the concepts of PTSD and healing after trauma a lot in this book. I wasn’t as into the main characters in here, but I would still recommend it if you need a quick read that’s enjoyable.

This is my first book by Elsie Silver and I feel really disappointed because it seemed promising and she’s an author who has caught my attention for a while.
At first, this book seemed easy-going to me; although not much was happening, it wasn't terrible either. But it reached a point where the book was mostly about them having sex or with thoughts or conversations loaded with sexual innuendos, and it simply wasn’t the kind of story I was expecting or in the mood to read.
It won't be my last book by the author, but I think I’ll skip the rest of this series and go for the Chesnut Springs books for my second attempt with Elsie Silver.

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know our characters. I love ex military men in books, especially when they are handled well. I loved the way Elsie handles PTSD. You would think that his came from his time overseas, which it does to a degree, but the majority of his struggles come from an event he witnessed as a 17 year old. Along with his PTSD, Cole has to deal with a secret that he hides from everyone, affecting the way he views himself and how others treat him. He comes across grumpy and gruff but it’s nothing more than a barrier to keep people from getting to close…. Until Violet.

Violet is a horse jockey who some would say lucked out into her position. She is coming off a high of a string of wins in a previous racing season, when an accident occurs causing her to stay off a horse for a month in a cast. During that time she has to live with Cole, a man from her past that caused her emotional distress. She tries to avoid him but their magnetic energy pulls them close even as they fight it.

Violet is our sunshine but even she has her own demons. I thought she was very dynamically written and I enjoyed getting to know her. I thought she was a strong character and loved the way she stood up to Cole in a way others tend to avoid.

The author does well in writing side characters, who have their own books, and these characters stole the show every time they were on the page. This could be a plus and a minus as when Billie was on the page, I didn’t miss our MCs.

Regardless, such a cute redemption and second chance romance. Another great read by Elsie Silver!

A Photo Finish, the second installment in Elsie Silver’s Gold Rush Ranch series, delivers an emotionally charged and irresistibly romantic story that will captivate readers from start to finish. In this book, we follow the complex and deeply personal journey of Cole Harding and Violet Eaton, whose past online connection comes crashing into their present lives in the small town of Ruby Creek.

Cole Harding, a former soldier burdened with PTSD and haunted by his past, moves to Ruby Creek for a business venture, only to find Violet Eaton, the jockey who ghosted him after their intense online relationship. Cole’s icy exterior begins to thaw as he finds himself living under the same roof as Violet, who is recovering from a riding accident. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their journey of self-discovery and healing is beautifully portrayed.

Violet is a strong, determined woman who has faced numerous challenges, including breaking free from her overbearing family. Her resilience and ambition are inspiring, and her interactions with Cole bring out the best in both characters. The dynamic between the brooding, disciplined Cole and the fiery, independent Violet is electric, filled with tension, sweet moments, and heartfelt conversations.

The character development in this book is outstanding. Cole’s struggle with his PTSD is handled with sensitivity and realism, making his eventual openness with Violet all the more poignant. Violet’s unwavering support and tough love push Cole to confront his fears and embrace the possibility of happiness. Their journey together is a testament to the power of love and understanding in overcoming personal demons.

Elsie Silver’s writing is engaging and evocative, with a perfect balance of romance, emotion, and humor. The slow burn romance, coupled with the forced proximity trope, keeps the readers on edge, eagerly turning pages to see how Cole and Violet’s relationship unfolds. The third act conflict is well-executed, adding depth to the characters’ growth and ultimately leading to a satisfying and heartwarming resolution.

A Photo Finish is a beautifully written story about second chances, healing, and the transformative power of love. It’s a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone looking for a heartfelt and uplifting story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Elsie Silver has truly crafted a gem with A Photo Finish, and I cannot wait to dive into the next book in the series!

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.
The book started out good but lost my interest towards the end with its repetitivenes. Violet and Cole were cute when they let themselves be, but they insisted on avoiding each other. I loved how Violet was the cow girl in the book.

Gold Rush Series #2, A Photo Finish, gives Violet her chance at love. The favored jockey has put in her dues at ranch, dealt with her overbearing family and finally found her own way. The new, bolder version of her is saddled-up to take on the world, only her past has caught-up to her present. Enter Cole Harding, older brother to Vaughn, a grumpy, curmudgeon. He avoids people, and lurks in the online dating world.

Cole is forced to come to ranch, dreading everyday, until he comes face-to-face with his purple angel. She literally took up ALL his world for new nearly a year online. Their online conversations helped him to overcome personal hardships. This couples meet/cute was brazen as Cole called her by her online name, connecting their past ecstasy.

I loved these two together, especially as they opened up to each other. His journey toward truths aids Cole in opening his heart and mind at the ranch. Grabbing book #3 quickly!

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books

Cole & Violet were quite the pair.

Cole is the epitome of a tortured hero. He is the grumpy military vet who is actively working on managing his PTSD not only from his time deployed, but also from witnessing his father's tragic death in a horse related accident.

Violet is a strong young woman who left her family ranch to find herself and get out from under the. thumb of the overbearing men in her life. Now she is trying to prove herself as the new jockey representing the horse ranch she works on - the ranch Cole's family owns.

But what only Violet and Cole know is that they had a secret online relationship long before they met in person.

I appreciated that amidst navigating her relationship with Cole, she stayed true to what she wanted for herself and why she left home in the first place. There were times where she pulled out the tough love card on Cole that felt slightly insensitive to Cole's ongoing struggles with PTSD. The way she snapped at him when he was genuinely concerned for her safety after she had been injured and fallen off an unbroken horse felt kind of uncalled for. It also seemed he was attempting to have an open dialogue with her as to why he felt triggered by that situation and she essentially shut him down and told him he had a short timeline to get his proverbial shit together.

It worked for him - because this is a romance novel - but that could have easily backfired for someone struggling with PTSD.

That said, the story arc for these characters leading up to this point was wonderful. I loved how vulnerable Cole got with Violet and how she was so open and non judgemental towards his trauma and the "big reveal" on their hike. Cole's character development was fantastic.

Thank you NetGalley, Elsie Silver and Source Books/Bloom Books for the eARC.

watching them fall for each other was everything. the grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, tension, serious talks and sweet moments 🥺 from the first book i was more intrigued with cole so getting to know and truly understand him in this one made a lot more sense.

the third act conflict was a little frustrating cause you just want them happy but i totally get why it was there cause of course he’d be hesitant after everything he’s been through. he needed someone like her. someone to be like “hey, i get why you’re scared but i’m not going anywhere”. he realized how much he loved her and stepped up so he can be who she needs as well.

i love their story and i wish i knew this series existed so i could’ve read it before chestnut springs but i’m glad to finally know their story 🩷

I am in love with this book and the main characters! Violet and Cole are on another level. I thinkkkk this may be one of my favorite Elsie Silver books to date.
Cole is so grumpy, he's built solid brick walls around him and his heart due to PTSD; his traumas are heavy, then comes Violet.
Unbeknownst to them both, when they seek out something online, they have stumbled upon each other. They confide in each other for over a year before it ends abruptly, then when Violet begins working for Cole's brother on the ranch, he recognizes her and puts the pieces together.
It may seem like fate, but there are many hurdles these two have to overcome to break down those brick walls and see what could be...

This story is fun, a little quirky, and yet it pulls on the heartstrings every chance it gets! I loved Cole and Violet's tale, and am so excited for book 3 in the Gold Rush Ranch series!