Thoughts: I definitely liked this one better than the first one in the series. Violet is the girl who Cole talked to online, but one day she disappears. He recognizes her right away. The grumpy x sunshine was really great in this book. Somehow they are able to find happiness and I'm glad I was along for the ride.

Vibes:
Small Town
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Spice: 2/5

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

I’m just saying if you guys haven’t read this series yet and you loved chestnut springs, it’s so worth it!!! I actually had the best time from start to finish, also getting to see Violet Eaton finally made me sooo freaking happy! Also a man in therapy?! We love to see it honestly!!!

I absolutely loved this book! I finished it in less than a day! I could not put it down! Elsie Silver is an incredible author and the banter queen! I did not know that I needed Violet's story as much as this! Every story that Elsie Silver creates interlock together so well!

Book Review
A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver

Gold Rush Series book 2
Locale- Ruby Creek

FMC- Violet- you know her from Chestnut Springs series- she’s an Eaton, sweet and sunshine, former groomer and new jockey

MMC-Cole- brooding grouchy former cowboy , retired military turned businessman

Tropes and Triggers
Spicy
Broken to healed
PTSD
Forced proximity
Internet hook up
Retired military
Horses/racing
Grumpy vs sunshine

Thoughts
Mmmmm…. 😊
Spicy and sweet
Binged this one easily- Elsie just gets it-
The sexual tension, the mindfuck your brain plays with your heart when you’re falling in love , the art of hiding your pain and loneliness, the dialogue and banter of personality clashes… ALL OF IT

Read it
Whether you are in your cowboy era or not… her books leave a smile on your face 😏

Thanks to @netgalley and Bloom (Sourcebooks) for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

📖 A Photo Finish
✍️Elsie Silver
🗓️Jul 23 2024
📝SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books

Genre:
Contemporary romance
Series or standalone:
Gold Rush Ranch Series

Tropes:
🐎dual timeline
🐎sunshine x grumpy
🐎sports romance
🐎second chance romance
🐎hidden identity
🐎small town romance
🐎forced proximity
🐎 veteran soldier

💭 Summary 💭
Cole once had his chance with Violet. But he blew it. They were never meant to meet again, but it’s a small world and they meet on his family ranch where she works as a jockey.
Will there be a second s chance for them?

Heroine:
Violet Easton
Hero:
Cole Harding

Location:
Gold Rush Ranch, Ruby Creek, Canada 🇨🇦
Fluency/Writing:
violet Easton…. Wait where did we hear that name again? Yes, in our beloved Chestnut Springs Series. Now we finally get the chance to meet the youngest Easton. I could not wait, I was way too excited for this!

This is not quite up to par yet with the Chestnut Springs Series but in typical Elsie Silver fashion, it was still a book worth reading. I liked Violet a lot and I am glad we got to know the youngest sibling as well. She is sassy and driven, I loved that about her.

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

Not my favorite Elsie Silver book, but still binged it in one sitting. I loved Violet! What a sweet optimistic soul. I even liked broody Cole. I was initially icked out by how their relationship started, but the penpals theme grew on me. I loved reading about Violet training Pippy-what a sweet subplot. This one wasn’t as strong of a start to the relationship as some of her other books, but overall I thought it was a fun read. I’ll definitely go back and read the rest of the series!

A Photo Finish is book two in the Gold Rush Ranch series by Elsie Silver. I loved the first book in this series, Off to the Races. It's only my busy reading schedule that has made it difficult for me to get to this second book. But it was well worth the wait.

We met the sweet and sassy Violet Eaton in book one. She is twenty six years old and has gone from horse groomer at Gold Rush Ranch, to their jockey. The girl lucky enough to ride their horses in races. Violet had a great childhood with three older brothers and a dad who loved her, maybe too much. They were very over protective. So when she moved away and got the job at Gold Rush, it was her way of launching Violet 2.0. A newer, bolder version ready to take on the world. Which is what brought her to the attention of Cole Harding.

I loved the way these two initially met. It was perfect for them and it allowed them to get to know each other in a way they wouldn't have otherwise. Without even realizing it was happening, they became reliant on each other. They looked forward to their conversations. Because conversations were all they were. There were no faces, no identities. Until everything changed. Now they are living on the same ranch, forced to share the same house. Neither can help but to want more from the other, to wish for what could never be.

Cole has secrets, secrets that have kept him from fully rejoining society. But, when his secrets are finally revealed, it gives he and Violet the chance to explore the chemistry between them. And let me tell you, these two do have ALL the chemistry. As their bond deepens, though, it also forces Cole to face his deepest triggers and he is forced to make a decision. To live in the past, in the dark corners, never knowing the joys life might have in store for him? Or to face them head on, not to allow them to win.

I really did love this book. I loved these two together. And I loved seeing more from Billie and Vaughn from the first book as well. This is such a wonderful series. Elsie Silver has such a beautiful way of telling her stories.

Elsie Silver's books are always so much fun and this one is no exception! I have been loving the Chestnut Spring series so it was so much fun to go back to get to know the youngest Eaton sibling, Violet! She's everything I would hope she would! She driven, compassionate, and independent! I loved learning about what made her want to leave home and strike out on her own!

Without giving too much away, the way her and Cole first "meet" is definitely nothing like I've read before!
Their chemistry is so good, their banter plays off each other in the most fun way! They help each other grow and heal to become the best versions of themselves!

I'm definitely looking forward to diving into the rest of the Gold Rush series as it continues to get re-released!

Tropes
-dual timeline
-sunshine x grumpy
-sports romance
-second chance romance
-hidden identity
-small town romance
-forced proximity

Gahhhh. This book. Cole. Violet. They are everything!

This story definitely took a twist I did not see from the get go. And I loved it!

Cole. Omg Cole. Tortured beautiful grumpy veteran soldier. I just wanted to wrap him in a giant hug and love him. He stole my heart.

Violet was everything I hoped she’d be and more and exactly what Cole needed. Her sunshine to his dark cloud. Opposites attract. They were wonderful together and the chemistry did not lack at all. Absolutely loved them.

This book makes you laugh, breaks your heart, and warms your soul. It was just perfection.

I loved the Chestnut Springs series from Elsie Silver and was excited to dive into her earlier series. A Photo Finish was great - super emotional while also being hopeful, and the characters have great chemistry.

Violet Eaton has struck out on her own to prove herself as a racehorse jockey. At one of her first big races, she meets Cole Harding, the brother of the owner of the ranch where she works. Cole out himself as the online pen pal that Violet had for over a year and then ghosted after a video chat gone wrong. When Violet breaks a leg in a race, she’s has no other choice but to stay at Cole’s farmhouse (the only one story building around apparently!) to recover.

Cole’s got a tough background and I loved how we see his growth in the book. I also loved his therapist, Trixie! The story contains text threads from the online relationship between Cole and Violet which also gave a nice dual timeline element to their relationship. We get both POVs which is my favorite. I loved how we get to see Violet and Cole show that we don’t have to be better or perfect to be worthy of love and acceptance.

Content flags: parental death off page in past; Cole has PTSD and a physical injury from his time in the military

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“I should tell her she’s so much more. The thing that got me out of bed most mornings. My bright spot. My sunshine.”

Cole and Violet met online after she posted an anonymous nude. What was just supposed to be a proposition turned into friendship between the two. After a year of ghosting him Violet comes flying back into Cole’s life.

The slow burn of this story really enhanced Violet and Cole’s chemistry. They got to know eachother without actually knowing eachother so you know that their feelings are genuine. You can also see that from the beginning they’re fighting the pull to be together.

I loved learning more about Violet Eaton and her story to becoming a jockey. I enjoyed Cole’s journey to becoming more comfortable and confident with himself and how he is able to compliment Violent.

Low key loved Pip squeak too 🐴

I absolutely adore Elsie Silver books & this didn’t disappoint! Loved this read & obsessed with the MCs. The audio version was *chefs kiss*

Thank you for this arc!

Thank you to Elise Silver, Bloom Books, and NetGalley, for giving me an eARC of A Photo Finish in exchange for my honest review.

Let me tell you people: you have never seen a second-chance romance quite like this one. Since her first win riding DD during Off to the Races, Violet has gone on to experience even more success. Going into her second season, Violet is anxious to prove herself and is worried that last season was a fluke. She is also working overtime to avoid Cole, whom she had a connection with in the past. Though it should be noted that the two never meet face to face. After an unexpected incident forces Violet and Cole into close proximity, sparks start to fly.

What I loved about Violet and Cole is that their relationship was healing for both of them. They both went on a journey throughout the book, one of healing and self discovery. At times it did feel like their journey took away from the readers feeling the connection between the two as it has been established outside of the book. But I appreciate how Silver allowed that to happen because if their connection had been allowed to be put on the page more than it was it would have taken away from the journey the two went on. To all those readers who love character development: this book is for you.

Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up

The side characters/plots are just present enough to nod to some of our past favorites without it being overwhelming. I love that Violet has fully made her own way but is still clearly close to her family. And the addition of the way Billie and Vaughn have settled into this comfortable, occasionally goofy love is so perfect. It also shows Violet that it is okay to be uncompromising sometimes - because Billie is able to do that and still be happy and loved.

Violet is so open and earnest and willing to grow and learn and take (often risky) chances. She’s determined and a tiny little spitfire; and it’s exactly what grumpy old tender heart Cole needs. He has been burned enough by vulnerability to be hesitant about it, and Violet is just steady enough to draw it out of him.

Ugh FINE I’ll go read the rest twist my arm

I loved everything about this book. The characters were so uniquely complex while still having a fun story!

Cute, grump vs sunsine, dual POV, small town, meet cute, the tension!!! A love a good broody MMC. Check trigger warnings.

I am so happy that I was able to reread this book again!! And I am absolutely obsessed with these new covers !! Being able to read this series was such a fun time for me !! I really loved the chesnut springs series and I was so happy to hear about this series !! It was so cool to see some of the connections to chesnut springs in these books, but to also hear about how she wrote these first was so cool and fun! Made these books much more enjoyable !! I love being able to see how an author combines the worlds of two series !!! Really had a great time reading about this story !! Loved all of the characters and their dynamic !

A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver is the story of Violet and Cole. They originally meet as pen pals and then go from enemies to lovers in this second book in her Gold Rush series.

Violet is the "strong one " in this book and she helps Cole through some tough times and emotional issues in this horse racing story.

The characters are well developed, mostly likeable and have incredibly chemistry and I rooted for them and couldn't wait for them to get through the enemy phase so we could end up in the lover part of the book.

The age gap was a bit much for me (it's not one of my favorite tropes), but I was able to get over that when their personalities meshed so well.

This was a great book and I haven't read the first in the series, but I am going to go back and then re-read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I loved Violet and Cole’s story. From strangers, to pen pals, to enemies, to lovers. It’s a whole ride. I love the touches on mental health, PTSD, and death of a family member. The way that Violet really found herself, and knows what she wants, and doesn’t take any shit from Cole. The way that Cole shows his love through love languages when he can’t talk about his feelings. And I’m sorry, but can Pipsqueak have her own book, please?! How can a horse be so sweet?!!!

I don't know much of anything about horses or ranch living, but I really enjoyed this story!! I loved Violet and Cole together for so many reasons. Violet is so strong and confident. Cole is a bit of a mess, but such a sweetheart who wants to do right by Violet. I really loved reading about his military background. Although it wasn't the main focus, it made him who he is and was handled well. I'm ready to download and read all of Elsie Silver's books now!

Thank you to Netgalley, Elsie Silver and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.