A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver is a sweet romance book. Grumpy rich man, small town (almost) innocent young lady and horses - what's not to love? I enjoyed the spicy. I also liked the deeply emotional part of delaing with trauma. Thank you, Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
SPICE: 🔥🔥

I love Elsie’s writing. I swear she could write a grocery list and I would be begging for more. Violet and Cole were so good together, and I was hooked from the very beginning with these two! This is a reread for me, and I have to say after gobbling up everything Elsie has written, this is probably the swooniest of all her couples.

Listen, I will fall for the tortured grump EVERY SINGLE TIME. Cole is no exception and watching him heal and open up to Violet, it just made all parts of me melt in a puddle on the floor!

TROPES ⬇️

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

This was my first Elsie Silver book, and I have mixed feelings. While I enjoyed it for the most part, I was mostly bored throughout the story. I had to keep convincing myself to pick this one back up. I loved the horse element, the strong female (Violet), and the tortured billionaire (Cole). Violet is a small horse jockey who is fiercely independent, but is also very patient. Cole is the grumpy owner of the ranch, who has endured so many traumas that he has given up on love. While it was sweet, and the twists were a bit jarring, I think it was missing something. I cannot put my finger on it, but it is missing something. Still, I recommend as a good cowgirl! romance.

I am the biggest fan of a mmc with a tough exterior who is troubled and is a softie for his love interest. Cole is just that. He is by no means perfect, but I love a character that is as complex as him. I loved seeing Violet as I have seen glimpses of her in the Chestnut Springs series. She is so sweet and hardworking. I loved seeing how she blossomed throughout the book and on her own.

This book was so good! I had read this after The Chestnut Springs series. It made me smile to hear some familiar names. Cole and Violet where great characters and a great start to another great Elsie Silver series.

Elsie can write no wrong book. Another fabulous read!

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Just the obstacles these characters had to overcome. My heart felt for Cole with his PTSD and military background. I cried quite a few times while reading this. I couldn't stop rooting for him.

There is just something so comforting about a small town and Elsie does it so well. I'd love to be there with the horses and people. I loved chestnut springs and this is quickly becoming a favorite.

A fantastic read!

I will read and love anything Elsie Silver writes. Not only are these new covers absolutely gorgeous, but it's so fun to go back to her first series and fall in love with a whole new set of characters!

A Photo Finish is a sizzling ride from start to finish! When Cole Harding moves to Ruby Creek, he never expected to run into Violet Eaton, the woman he's shared steamy, anonymous chats with online. As a jockey recovering from a riding accident, Violet's fiery spirit and undeniable chemistry with Cole ignite sparks that are impossible to ignore.
Cole's broody, battle-scarred exterior starts to crack under Violet's charm, making their forced cohabitation a rollercoaster of emotions and sexual tension. Violet is fierce and determined, while Cole's protective instincts and hidden depths add layers to their romance.
The author masterfully blends humor, heart, and heat, creating a story that's both touching and tantalizing. If you love a good enemies-to-lovers trope with plenty of emotional depth and steamy moments, A Photo Finish is a winner!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. Elsie Silver has such a great style of writing that makes all of her books enjoyable to read. I love all the characters in this book which makes you really want to root for them.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this ARC. I love this author, and this book series is definitely living up to my expectations. I love the gold Rush Ranch series and the second book is wonderful. I love her character development. I love the depth and relatability. Her characters always have in each of her stories. I love, Valerie and Cole’s vulnerability, and how they gain their strength and confidence throughout the book and such a beautiful way. I love second chance, romance, and small town and this had all of those troupes!! I would highly recommend this author and all her book series as well!!

When I tell you that Elsie completely delivered on Violet's story, I mean it with my whole heart. When I read the Chestnut Springs series and I saw Violet introduced, I knew I needed to read her story. And when I tell you I did NOT expect it to be this one? I was thrown for a loop but in the best way possible.

When we first meet Violet in this book, she's very shy but eagerly wants to prove herself and make it known she's not just the Eaton boy's baby sister. Her character development in this was so beautiful. She was overall just a beautifully written character. I liked the uniqueness of the plot, as Violet uploads a nude picture of herself and that's actually where she ends up meeting Cole.

Cole was very briefly introduced in the first book, and he came off as a very broody, cold person. While reading this, though? He's actually the sweetest man. I LOVED seeing him come out of his shell and develop into the character he was. A huge reason I really like Elsie's books is because she adds so much depth to her characters that it actually feels like you know them. I really WANT to know them. I know that when I dive into these books, I'm ready to be transported and immersed.

Even just finishing the second book, I'm not ready for this to be over. I've said it before with the Chestnut Springs series and I will say it here. Although, I'm very eager to learn about Stefan 👀 This book had beautiful characters, a beautiful world, a beautiful plot, and of course...the beautiful spice ☺️

This series has the best third act grand gestures 😭

This book is a *double* slow-burn, past and present! Also, the dual timeline narration in this one is done perfectly!

I can't wait for the rest of the books in this series

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I have been wanting to dive into Elsie Silver's catalog for a while now, and elected to start with Gold Rush Ranch rather than Chestnut Springs for timeline purposes. I loved Violet and Cole. He is damaged and she knows it, but she is also unwilling to give up on him simply because of that damage. This book is very much a spicy romance but it is also a story of self-acceptance and finding the willingness to look at and start to process one's trauma. I recommend this book, as well as the whole of the Gold Rush Ranch series.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Ahhhh, this book was amazing! Elsie Silver is always an INSTANT BUY for me! It's a second-chance romance where Violet, after a year-long online relationship with Cole, ends up working at the ranch where Cole and his family are employed. When Violet gets injured and moves in with Cole to recover, the tension between them is electric. Elsie Silver writes tension perfectly, and I was hooked on their simmering chemistry. Despite Cole's broody, damaged demeanor, his care for Violet is endearing. The chapters revealing their past interactions were a great touch. I loved every moment of this book!

I wanted to love this one especially after really enjoying The Chestnut Springs series. I had trouble connecting with the story. Violet and Coles back story of how they met just seems too unrealistic to me. The plot was a little far fetched for me.

This book was EVERYTHING.

I love the relationship between all the characters. They really brought out the best in eachother and made sure to hold one another accountable if need be. Violet and Close were the perfect “enemenies to lovers” without actually being full on enemies. Their chemistry was undenialable and I couldn’t put the book down.

A Photo Finish
by Elsie Silver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars!!

A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver, and wow, this book hit all the right notes! The grumpy/sunshine trope between Cole and Violet is perfection, it was definitely my favorite. Their forced proximity and second-chance romance kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved how Violet shines as an athlete in a male-dominated sport, and Cole’s brooding charm just made me want to give him a hug. This book is just so good and you'll be swooning from ear to ear. If you're into small-town vibes, intense chemistry, and a slow-burn romance, this one's a must-read!

Dual POV, Spicy, Age Gap. Grumpy x Sunshine, Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Small Town

I read the Chestnut Springs series before reading this one so I was super excited to read this as it follows Violet Eaton. Watching Violet's career go from groom to jockey was almost as satisfying as her falling in love with grumpy Cole. Cole Harding is a surly, brooding man who has been pining for Violet for a long time and when they are forced to become roommates things between them grow even more complicated.

I love the premise of two MC's meeting online, and then unknowingly meeting in person. I think it plays into real life more than we think. I loved seeing Violet away from her brothers, finally getting a chance to shine on her own, and become her own character. I really liked the fact the FMC was the athlete in the story. I'm always here for more FMC's who are cowgirls, bull riders, jockeys, and other "malecentric" sports. Cole is one of my favorite Elsie Silver MMC's. I just wanted to give the man a hug.

Tropes:

- Dual POV
- Forced Proximity
- Age Gap
- Mental Health Representation
- Small Town Setting
- Grumpy x Sunshine

The story introduces us to Cole and Violet, who first connect online, knowing only their screen names and a few details about each other. When they finally meet in person years later, sparks fly and chaos ensues. Violet injures herself as a jockey and needs to spend time recovering. Her recovery just happens to be in the home where Cole and his family live. Cole's unexpected reaction to discovering their real-life connection adds depth to their relationship, especially given the ties to his brother and the family ranch.

This book has:

- Dual POV
- Forced Proximity
- Age Gap
- Slow-ish Burn
- Mental Health Representation
- Small Town Setting
- Horses, and lots of them
- Grumpy x Sunshine

The chemistry between Cole and Violet is intense, making their romance a captivating read. There were times where I didn't love Cole and Violet's personalities separate from one another but Elsie Silver just knows how to write romance! My only minor critique is that Violet's personality seemed a bit different from what I anticipated based on the Chestnut Springs series. I loved her most of the time, but other moments in the book she felt insufferable. However, this was a book I finished in just a few days so this issue clearly didn't stop me from loving it.

This book also addresses some serious themes while also keeping me hooked all throughout. Cole's journey through his past traumas and insecurities is both heart-wrenching and beautifully done; I found myself deeply moved by his struggle and growth. I loved the incorporation of some more serious topics, I'm all for a fluffy romance but sometimes I just need a little more depth!

Overall, A Photo Finish is a touching and well-crafted story that kept me engrossed from start to finish. Elsie Silver has delivered yet another fantastic read that fans of romance will adore. Highly recommend!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review of this re-release.