Who knew a romance book about horse racing would be so delightful?? Certainly not me, yet it truly was.

Horse racing isn't my thing. I don't know anything about it, I don't watch it on t.v. or anything. Although I do love the movie "Secretariat" a lot.

All that said, this book was really great. I loved the two main characters so much. Violet is one of the strongest female leads I think I've ever read, and man, did I love everything about her. She's who I want to be when I grow up!! And Cole, yeah, he's a mess, but the loveliest mess. The way they come together and eventually figure it all out is amazing!

I'd definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I just love a good damaged hero and second chance romance. I really didn’t see the big reveal coming. All of the topics in this book were handled very well. I’m excited to read more of this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

I adore all of Elsie's book, this series included. The small town vibes and the way her series connect to one another is perfect to me. I read this so fast and the new cover is stunning. I can appreciate age gap in romance novels when its handled well and I think Elsie does a really good job here. I love Cole and his grumpy little attitude which is balanced by sunshiny Violet. Something I love in a lot of her books is the attention to friendships and the female friendships in this book add such a nice little element to the story!

this is the exact book i’m looking for when i say i want a cowboy romance 🤠

this had just the right amount of tension and emotional back story between our main couple that didn’t feel forced or drawn out. i truly believed they’d be a great couple and i enjoyed reading how they got their happy ending together.

Queen Elsie can do no wrong! I absolutely love Violet and Cole and their story. Their love story is so unique from others I’ve read. I love them SO MUCH! The new cover is gorgeous. I read this one a long time ago and it was lovely to revisit them.

Thank you to Bloom Books for the ARC of this book. This is the second book in the Gold Rush Ranch Series and I loved it so much! Nobody does cowboy romance quite like Elsie Silver. This was a fun read and had a great second chance romance storyline that felt original. Cade and Violet are an unlikely pair with a significant age gap, who connected through the internet years prior. Now that Cade is back in town, their connection is undeniable in person. I truly enjoyed both characters and their love story. I always know I will love any book by Elsie Silver and this was no exception. Loved it and highly recommend!

A Photo Finish is book two of the Gold Rush Ranch series and follows Cole (Vaughn’s brother from book 1) and Violet (Cade and Rhett’s sister from the Canyon Ranch books). I really liked their dynamic from the start and the glimpses we got of their relationship in the past when they met on an online forum. It was special seeing them truly start to fall for each other even when Cole was the ultimate grump!

What to expect:
-Grumpy vs sunshine
-Enemies to lovers
-Broken hero
-Second chance romance
-Forced proximity
-Horse racing
-Age gap
-Spicy scenes
-Small town

My first Elsie Silver book. I finally understand why readers are obsessed with her books, because this one was so good!

Violet and Cole have an online history, but no relationship-not even friendship-thanks to a real-life meet hideous. Cole is hiding his hurt and pain from the world, meanwhile Violet is eager to make a name for herself. When an injury means they need coexist as temporary roommates, can they recapture what they once had?

Read if you like:
-Second Chance Romance
-Forced Proximity
-Hurt/Comfort
-Grumpy Heroes

I ate this story up and left no crumbs. The second chance storyline was so cute. I loved the way Violet completely wormed her way under his skin and into his heart, first through their message exchanges and later in real life. A Cole is the wounded hero of my dreams. His character arc was so good and so satisfying. This book delivered so many delicious hurt/comfort moments.

I'm definitely going to be reading more from Elsie Silver after this.

I can’t believe I waited this long to read Violet’s story. Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the digital review copy that finally got me in gear.

I love Violet’s independent spirit and her open heart to both animals and Cole in all his resistant glory. She doesn’t give up on him, but she also has a self-respect that doesn’t allow him to give her less than she feels she deserves either. She calls him on his crap, reassures him that she doesn’t need him “fixed” she just needs effort to make a life with her.

I felt for Cole and the struggles he faced as a result of his past. I understood his reluctance to allow anyone too close and his fear of moving forward. I admired his desire to find a healthier path and his embracing of therapy. He was far from perfect and had his flaws, but he came around to working on them.

I didn’t love the flashbacks, just because I’m not personally a fan in most books. It can disrupt the flow for me. They were helpful and necessary to establish Cole and Violet’s history though, so they did serve a purpose.

I do know I definitely need to finish the rest of this series now to spend more time with the Gold Rush gang.

This book immediately intrigued me and drew me in. I’m a sucker for a lost cause and loved unraveling the layers of Cole like an onion! And Violet was so darn sweet. This is my second book by Elsie Silver and I can say for sure now I’m a fan! Canadian author, horses, cowboys and so much character growth…. What’s not to love? ☺️

Elsie Silver simply does not miss.

I have always been an Epic Fantasy girly until my bestfriend forced me to read Flawless (by Elsie Silver) and let me tell you I have not been able to stop. Between the Chestnut Springs series and now this!? You all can officially consider me a lover of cowboy romances!

Her writing is so easily digestable while also interesting enough to keep you invested in the story. I wouldn't place this above my love for Chestnut Springs, but its great nonetheless and I was equally as interested in these characters.

I definitely recommend, even if you aren't an avid romance reader, like myself.

So I didnt realize this had already been on shelves for a while. I love this series and I cant wait for the next book. Horses and ranches with a side of spice is amazing it gives me "Wildfire" and i was obsessed growing up. I give it 5 stars I love this so much and dare i say it i liked it more than the first one. I hope at the end of this series theres a book to kind of go over where they all are after.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - July 9, 2024
Original Pub Date - August 13, 2021
New Pub Date - July 23, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @authorelsiesilver, @read_bloom and @netgalley!

I loved going back into the world of Elsie Silver small towns and cowboys! I found it interesting that this book starts after the action happens! I don’t feel like that’s common and it was a fun change in pace. If you love grumpy men who do sweet protective things, A Photo Finish is the book for you! Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love that? Add in "touch her and d**" energy, and you’re in for some good romance. Elsie Silver books are so easy to annotate because there are always swoon worthy quotes and this one is no exception. I found that somehow she put feelings I’ve had into words in a way that actually makes them make sense! While Violet is not my favourite FMC, I am absolutely looking forward to the rest of the series!

If you like small town, age gap, forced proximity books, you should give A Photo Finish a try!

Get excited to read the new publication of A Photo Finish, available July 23! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

I absolutely love this author and everything she writes. This book....I devoured like all of her others. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Elsie Silver’s “A Photo Finish” is the second novel in the Gold Rush Ranch series. This romance novel explores tropes like grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and an age gap.

Thirty-six-year-old Cole Harding, co-owner of Gold Rush Ranch, has a traumatic past. As a teenager, he witnessed his father's death during a horse race. Seeking escape, he enlisted in the Marines, serving multiple tours in Iraq and returning with PTSD. After his high school sweetheart and fiancée ended their engagement, Cole became bitter, avoiding in-person relationships and physical touch. He resorted to sexual encounters online, where he could see others, but they couldn't see him.

Twenty-six-year-old Violet “Vi” Eaton left Chestnut Springs and her overbearing family to forge her own path. Contrary to her name, Violet is anything but meek and delicate; she's headstrong, focused, and full of positivity. In a bid to rebel, she joins Clikkit (similar to OnlyFans) and uploads a revealing photo from the neck down.

Cole, using the handle Golddigger85, responds to Violet, known as Pretty_in_Purple, requesting a video in exchange for money. Despite Violet's initial rejection, the two exchange messages daily for a year. Eventually, Violet agrees to a video chat, following Cole's instructions for her pleasure. When Cole refuses to turn on his camera, Violet feels betrayed and deletes the app.
A year later, Violet, now a jockey, wins her first race and qualifies for the Denman Derby. Meeting with the owners, she is shocked when Cole whispers her Clikkit name in her ear. Despite the tension, they avoid each other until Violet is injured in a race. Unable to walk upstairs, she moves into the farmhouse with Cole.

As roommates, Cole and Violet confront their pasts. Cole opens up about his scars and torment, and despite their intimate affair, his PTSD remains a hurdle. To maintain their relationship, Cole must confront and navigate his fears to keep Violet in his life.

Silver’s novel sensitively addresses war-time injuries and mental illness, particularly through Cole's conversations with his therapist, Beatrice “Trixie.” However, some plot elements lack resolution. Cole’s reunion with Hilary, a pivotal figure in his downfall, is brief and underdeveloped. Patrick Cassel, who deliberately causes Violet’s injury, also disappears from the narrative without facing consequences. Additionally, Cole's struggle with balancing his city job and the relationship is left unresolved.

Violet’s ultimatum to Cole in the novel's final quarter is problematic. Her "tough it up or leave" mentality is a common but misguided approach to PTSD, lacking compassion and understanding. Her brashness, considering she hasn’t endured similar trauma, undermines her character's previous depth and sensitivity. This portrayal could perpetuate harmful misconceptions about PTSD, suggesting it can be quickly overcome, rather than highlighting the need for patience and empathy.

Thank you NetGalley and BloomBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I love a good second chance! And with the aspect of anonymous petals? Stop it was so good. This book was full of so many good tropes. He takes care of her when she’s not feeling good, the acts of service, touch her and… I’ll maim you, second chance (obvi), forced proximity, and so many more.
I thought we might get some interaction between violet and her family and there wasn’t. Besides her bringing them up we honestly wouldn’t know much about them (besides the fact that I’ve already read the CS series).
He was so obsessed it was so cute.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this e copy

Violet and Cole had me hooked after the snippet of them at the end of Off to the Races, and I knew I’d love them—and I was right.
Tension and avoidance is heavy in A Photo Finish, but in the most perfect way possible. It allows us to see into who Violet and Cole really are. As Violet and Cole navigate their forced proximity, we see snippets of their past that helps explain their tension and chemistry. But there’s still so much that is not shared.

Cole is the epitome of a tortured hero. Reclusive. Broody. Private. He feels like a shadow of his former self after returning from the military. But he’s still overcoming the trauma of his service, and refuses to share his story with his family. It’s Violet that comes in and breaks down his walls, forcing him to confront his experiences and what his new life is like.

Violet helps heal Cole in many ways, and in the most important ways for Cole himself and how he views himself after his military career comes to an end. Cole’s self-doubt and insecurities run rampant, and for good reason, but my heart breaks for him badly with his self-perception. This is why Violet is so fucking good for him. They’re perfect for each other. Violet reignited parts of him he thought he’d lost. She’s the woman of his dreams, and the woman haunting his dreams (in the best way).

Being so new to her role as the jockey for Gold Rush Ranch, Violet is plagued by her own insecurities, self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Slowly, though, being forced to be in each others’ presence also forces them to come to terms with their issues and secrets, and help each other heal.

Cole will always be special to me. I don’t want to spoil parts of the book, but he has my heart and I want to give him all the hugs and love. With deep scars, Violet shows Cole how worthy and deserving he is 🥹🥹
Genuinely though, Cole is everything and I love him so much.

Cole and Violet are inevitable.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Publishing and NetGalley for this title to read and review.
I have read a few of Elsie Silver's books and always find her books to be a charming read full of heart. Her books are cozy like a Hallmark movie with some added spice.
This is the second novel in the Gold Rush Ranch story and can be read as a standalone.
This book has small town romance, age gap, and grumpy versus sunshine tropes.

I didn't love the way that Violet and Cole initially meet; anonymously on the internet while Cole is being a bit of a predator on a website where Violet posted a half nude picture of herself. That scenario felt a bit ick, but to each their own. I know it happens in real life; it just wasn't the meet-cute I like to read.
The book itself is anticlimactic and redundant. Cole pushes Violet away, Violet secretly pines for Cole but disguises this under a shield of anger and resentment. Rinse and repeat.
Once Cole's walls come down a little, the book gets good. Mind you this almost at the 70% mark. I feel like the book was missing something significant in the middle to draw the reader in.
It was fine, but certainly not this author's best.

Violet Eaton stepped outside of her comfort zone and took a chance on being confident and in charge of her sexuality and met a mysterious man online that captivated her. Their friendship bloomed until one sexy night changed everything. When it ends abruptly she tries to move on, only to encounter him in real life at her job at Gold Rush Ranch. Cole Harding is part owner of the ranch and is shocked that Violet is the new jockey for the stables. He knows he should stay away from her and not let his personal traumas and demons steep into her life but he just can’t help to want to be around her. An accident pushes them closer together and as lingering emotions and feelings bubble to the surface for Violet and Cole, their attraction to one another is tough to deny.
—————-

A Photo Finish is classic Elsie Silver. Swoony and funny and heartwarming. Emotional and spicy. She is so good at writing not quite perfect men trying to work through their demons to be able to fully love a woman.

Violet was amazing. So full of fire and love and ready to be there for Cole. Silver does not write wishy washy women. Her characters are bold and brave and vulnerable when needed. They are always smart and confident but allow for uncertainty at times. They’re real. They feel like women you’d want to be friends with.

Violet loved Cole. Period. Not because of, in spite of, just loved him. Was ready to accept him for who he was but I don’t think even he knew who he was. He was still dealing with past traumas but slowly working through them, even more so to show Violet he wanted to be present for her. We love a man in therapy!

I adored this book and the series so far. I don’t think you can go wrong with an Elsie Silver book.

Thank you to Bloom Books, Elsie Silver and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book for review.

Cole Harding and Violet Eaton know each other through an anonymous online chat and never expected to meet.

When Cole reluctantly moves to Ruby Creek for a business venture, he finds Violet working as a horse jockey on the family ranch.

Cole had his chance with her, and he blew it. She ghosted him, and he closed himself off further than ever.

They were shocked to all the sudden have to see each other in person consistently!

Elsie Silver’s books are always great, and this one is no exception - I always enjoy reading her books!

This was such a fun read! I loved that Cole and Violet had an anonymous online relationship before meeting in person—it definitely created a TON of tension!

The grumpy-sunshine dynamic was adorable (and always my FAV).

A Photo Finish was such a fun and emotional read and I recommend it to those who love grumpy sunshine and forced proximity!

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

**Tropes:** Military, Horses, Grumpy Sunshine, Small Town, Forced Proximity.