While I'm a hard core Theo stan (followed closely by Rhett), Cole easily came in as another favorite. I loved the flashbacks of him and Violet, I loved how the grumpy/sunshine trope played out, I loved how truly caring he was right from the get go even if he didn't want anyone to see it. I loved how Violet constantly fought for what she wanted/needed and how Cole fell even harder because of it. The reconciliation was perfect for them but felt a liiiitle rushed that close to the end of the story, so I'm glad we get glimpses of them in the coming stories. Having read chesnut springs first, I feel like I need to go back to powerless for the connections to this series!

Highly recommend reading in series order, but no matter what, 🥰🫠🥰 <- this is me after falling in love with Cole and Violet's HEA.

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for my review!

In this second book of the Gold Rush Ranch series we follow Cole Harding who has moved into the family ranch to help with business. Cole is a very cut and dry type of man. He’s closed off to everybody and seemingly unbothered by it. He’s used to his quiet, secluded life. That’s until Violet waltzes in and puts a wrench in things. Especially because Cole recognizes her from his past and is not very happy with her to say the least. Violet 100% was put in Cole’s space to tear down his walls and help him come out of his shell. Violet is simply a bad ass, strong FMC. She’s not one to let others push her around. Especially not after she escaped her controlling family and is making a new life for herself. She is not about to let anybody stop her from reaching her goals and dreams.

I honestly LOVED this story. Cole and Violet’s undeniable chemistry is unmatched. I love how Violet took all the broken, insecure pieces of Cole and helped him put them back together without babying him. Knowing how strong he was and that he was fully capable of doing it on his own, but helping him through it. The mental health representation in a male character is one of my favorite things of this book and I wish it were talked about more!

I love how Elsie Silver creates perfectly relatable characters. Her feel-good romances always make me smile, swoon, giggle and kick my feet the whole way through and it was no different with this story! I love the slow burn, on edge build up to the spice of this book. It’s like you have to keep reading and cannot put the book down because you have to see how it ends up.

All in all I would give his 5/5 ⭐️! It was beautifully written. A sweet, fun, sexy, emotional story about loss, healing and second chances that really warmed my heart. It was exactly what I was expecting and more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the ARC of this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️

I was so excited for this book, truly. And while it’s not bad, it’s so drawn out.

The story itself was so good. I love the idea of secret identities, online lovers, the whole sexting, penpal companionship aspect. It was what made me want to read this book in the first place and now that I have I’m like…eh?

If it was just a little shorter, this book would have been great! I also felt kind of weird about the sex scenes. That first one was hot and I loved it, but the others? Not so much.

All in all, it wasn’t bad. Not my favorite Elsie Silver book, but I’d recommend it to others!

A Photo Finish is the second book in Gold Rush Ranch series; they are all interconnected standalones. This book follows Violet and Cole who, two years after an anonymous online relationship, end up living together in the small town of Ruby Creek.

A cute romance set in a small town at a ranch. A simple read and nothing too complicated. I liked both the main characters and the storyline was well done. About a 2/5 on the spicy scale. Not my favourite and didn’t quite hit like some other romances but I would recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this one. Violet and Cole were steamy and angsty and sweet and everything in between!

I ADORED VIOLET & I WILL PROTECT HER AT ALL COSTS!!! It was interesting learning about the Eaton family from the eyes of Violet. I really admired the way she left her home and found her own way in life, became her own person. She was fiery and funny, and she stood up for what she wants. One of my favorite Elsie FMCs!! Cole on the other hand, my tortured sweet man 🥹 the whole military hurt hero thing was not my favorite but ignoring that part, learning about his grief and therapy sessions was so so special. I truly loved these two together and felt like they complemented each other so well!

I am loving this series and the friendships/found family that are forming 🥹 no one does small towns like Elsie and this series deserves more hype!! This was such a quick and easy read with fun yet vulnerable characters and a great setting 🫶🏻

4 -⭐⭐⭐⭐

"You have the power to completely unravel me, and I hate feeling like that."

A Photo Finish is the second novel in the adult contemporary romance series, Gold Rush Ranch. Each book is a standalone but they are set in the same world and you will interact with the characters.

In this instalment we follow Violet and Cole. Two years after their anonymous internet relationship came to a crashing end they find that the world isn't as large as they thought, with Violet not only living in the small town of Ruby Creek where Cole's brother runs their family ranch but also working as a jockey for said ranch. To make matters worse when Violet is injured she is sent to live in the main house with Cole while he's in residence for work. The pain of their separation is palatable but the connection between them never went away. Can Cole unpack the invisible wounds of the past to make way from a future on the home front or will Violet have to always wonder what could have been...

This book is what I would call a comfort read. It's smooth and easy to dive into and you leave it feeling good and mellow.

Cole is a veteran who still struggles with the memories and impact with his last tour. He also experienced the traumatic loss of his father at the same ranch his younger brother now runs. Both contribute to him being closed off in fear of what opening himself up to will lead to. I appreciate his willingness to recognize his weaknesses and I adore his use of therapy to help unpack them. He has a tendency to push people away but when he lets them in...beautiful!

Violet is a fierce young woman. She has a passion for horses and it shows in all she does. She refuses to be held back and I love how freely she lives. She's willing to put herself out there but that doesn't mean she'll let her get hurt again and again. She makes Cole work for it :P

This story does contain spice. I would say about 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. Leading up to the spice there are references and memories of Cole and Violet's first sexual encounter online but spice doesn't happen until the second half of the book. We get a couple spicy moments that really highlighted the freedom that comes with being your true self. I also enjoyed the risky elements of their spice at times. It is detailed, fun, and well written.

"You look at me like we're inevitable."

The story itself is traditional. There is the push and pull that comes with unpacking what went wrong for these two and Cole's additional struggle to open himself up. I found there were delightfully sweet moments between them and the added element of the new horse being trained helped draw them together and give the story a focus. I really enjoyed the one twist and the side characters who helped give perspective to Cole and Violet. There are some expected elements of a romance so I didn't feel anything was groundbreaking - it was comfortable and easy to freely throw myself in. Also, that epilogue was super sweet and WAY TOO short for my love.

Overall, if you want a sweet romance with a push and pull set in a small town on a ranch this story will give you exactly what you need.

Thank you Bloom Books for this arc!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishing company and or the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review A Photo Finish.

Loved everything about this book from the characters to the plot.

I will definitely be reading more books from this author again.

Violet and Cole had an online affair involving talking every day and some video calls that made Cole’s existence bearable. Violet abruptly ends the chats and concentrates on her new job as jockey with Ruby Creek Ranch. She is away from her protective dad and brothers, ready to make something of herself. At her first win, she learns that Cole is the oldest brother at the ranch, technically her boss. Cole has fantasized about Violet and now has to see her every day when she injures herself during a horse race. His is the only place she can have a bedroom without climbing stairs. Cole has had PTSD from his time in the military and from when he watched his dad fall from a horse and die. He is always grumpy and aloof but with the attraction between Cole and Violet he is beginning to change. I loved the characters in this book. Each one had secrets but managed to support each other and help them be better people. The love of horses shared by the family was heartfelt. Great book about getting rid of old demons and getting on with life.

Slowly making my way through the rereleased Gold Rush Ranch series by one of my absolute FAV Canadian (formerly) Indie authors!! I loved the disability and mental health rep in this book (Cole, the MMC has a prosthetic leg and PTSD from his former life in the military). I also loved that Violet, the female lead was a jockey and that the two first met by talking online.

Great on audio narrated by two more favs, Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin, this dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity book was STEAMY and full of emotional depth! Another win from Elsie Silver and I am totally here for all her Canadian cowboy/girl love stories!! The bonus epilogue in this book was chef's kiss too!! Highly recommended for fans of books like Lauren Asher's Redeemed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

If Elsie Silver writes it... I am going to buy it. I repeat... If Elsie Silver writes it I am GOING to buy it!

Another book, another heart warmer, another beautiful story of love with happy endings that this reader craves. While this doesn't quite live up to the craze that the Chestnut Springs series brought us, this will have fans of Elsie Silver rejoicing all around!

Violet and Cole's story will take you on a beautiful broken hearts to healed love journey. I have adored the Eaton family since our Chestnut Springs adventures, and I could not get enough of the angsty build between these two.

Read if you love:
-Forced Proximity
-Second Chances
-Great Character dynamics
-Dual POV / Dual Timelines
-Age Gap
-Cowboy Romance
-Small Town Romance
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Veteran/ Military MMC
-Racing
-Lighter spice

Fav Quotes:
“We’re like two opposite ends of a magnet, naturally drawn to each other.”

Love, love, love this series so much. Miss Elsie Silver does it ever time. Automatic buy author for me. I really enjoyed the plot and the spice. I read this book seriously so fast.

I cannot tell you how much I fell in love with Violet and Cole. They are hands down my favorite Elsieverse couple. The work that they both put into themselves and each other is unmatched. They are the couple that I have no doubt in my mind will make it forever. A Photo Finish follows Violet, a young, new horse jockey at Gold Rush Ran ch and Cole, the older, recluse brother who co-owns Gold Rush Ranch. After her first race with DD, Violet gets the surprise of her life with Cole recognizes her from their time as online penpals and her *spicy* pictures. Following an accident, Violet is forced to stay in the ranch house with Cole during her recovery.
Through their time together feelings rekindle while they work through their pasts. This book has Elsie's signature humor and brings the spice. I had the best time reading and l'm so excited for its rerelease!

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
𝘼 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝
𝙀𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧
3.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Elsie Silver is a fantastic writer and I will continue to read anything she publishes! I wasn’t full gripped by this one, though. It had great angst, plot, and character dynamics…but something felt missing. The MMC was a bit of a drag sometimes, but he finally got his stuff together. Read if you love horses, angsty chemistry, and overcoming personal trauma / obstacles.

Violet is a really adorable character. She is strong and capable and had a cute sense of humor. She knew she had to push herself outside her comfort zone at one point and ended up virtually meeting Cole, although she didn’t know who he really was. Cole is a grump and it wasn’t until about halfway through this book that was really explained. However, the pieces came together and Violet was absolute sunshine the whole way through. Throughout the entire novel, Violet and Cole have a push and pull dynamic where the tension between them is palpable. (There is also a ton of blushing cheeks). The glimpses from their past interactions really add to it and show another perspective as the story moves on. There is a large helping of steam with this book (especially in their past interactions) and sometimes Cole comes off as only thinking about one thing with Violet. It toes a line and ends just on the side of not too creepy. Cole undergoes the most growth, which is refreshing to see, as Violet always stayed true to herself. I loved the ranch theme and as the first Elsie Silver book I’ve read, it will definitely not be the last! 4⭐️, 3.5🌶

Read if you like:
- Cowboy romance
- Second chance
- Dual POV
- Age gap

This is only the second book that I’ve read by Elsie Silver, the first being Off to the Races, and I did see major improvements in her writing. I appreciated the depth to these characters, the struggles that Cole had to overcome, and their connection. However, I wasn’t a fan of Cole and Violet’s meet-cute as it felt a bit icky to me. Overall, there were definitely some questionable parts to this story, but it was enjoyable and I will likely continue this series at some point. I also liked that we got introduced to the Eaton family, so I’m excited to read the Chestnut Springs series in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I devoured this book. A steamy grumpy sunshine that kept me turning the page until the very end. I loved that the MMC, Cole, had trauma/baggage, that was slowly revealed to the reader. His therapist, Trixie, cracked me up at every turn. Violet, the FMC was bright and cheery but also tough as nails. Even though she was tiny (really, though...she'd a professional jockey) she was so mighty.

This is book two in the series and now I need to go read book one to catch up!

Thank you for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was my first Elsie Silver book and I’m obsessed! This was a fun cute grumpy/sunshine small town trope.

Violet is a new jockey and has a passion for racing horses. Cole is a veteran who runs a multinational business who has come back to the ranch (reluctantly) to help with a business venture. Little does Violet know she knows her new boss…intimately. Can they manage to keep it professional or will they rekindle their connection. Or will his past make her walk away for good?

I read this book in one day and couldn’t put it down. I loved the twist about halfway through. I wasn’t prepared or expecting that at all.

Solid 4/5 stars and I would highly recommend this one!!

Thank you Elsie Silver and Bloom books for the chance to read A Photo Finish e-ARC!

I'm absolutely in my small town era! This book is amazing! It made me giggle and kick my feet, blush, and made me nervous at certain parts.

Cole and Violet are life. They have such a fun and unique story in how they met and I absolutely ate that up! The tension, chemistry, and banter between these two was absolutely top teir.

Cole is our haunted MMC who was previously in the military and has a lot of ✨️trauma✨️ of which, causes him to keep to himself, never really getting close to anyone, especially not a lady-friend.

Violet is our up and coming jockey with ambition and drive to be the best in her sport. She has confidence, she is sweet, and is an absolute badass.

If you want a book that makes you feel so immersed in their story that it feels like you're living it with them, definitely pick up this book (or really anything Elsie Silver because I swear, she is a genius with words).

Tropes:
Small Town
Grumpy × Sunshine
Horses/racing
Broken to healed
Veteran
Past trauma

I have loved the Eaton family since becoming obsessed with Chestnut Springs, and could not wait to read Violets story after seeing her pop up. Needless to say I loved this just as much as the others!

I’m so glad I picked up this series, and to see that it’s getting traditionally published makes my heart happy. When I first discovered Elsie Silver, I knew right away she was going to become one of my favorite romance authors. I first read her Chestnut Springs series and completely fell in love with her writing style and character development. Her books are a breeze to read and very fast-paced, but they’re also well-plotted and always leave me wanting more. I think what I love most about her books is how great the male love interests are. They’re all swoon-worthy and always know exactly the right thing to say to the women in their lives. Reading these books feels like being wrapped up in a big, warm hug. It’s hard not to smile while reading. When I picked up A Photo Finish, I had high hopes that it would be amazing, and it definitely did not disappoint. If you are looking for a well-written and fast-paced cowboy romance, this is the book you should pick up this summer! I’m so excited to see where this series goes next!