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.

I really enjoyed this one so much more than the first book. I just wanted to scoop Cole up and hold him tight. His loneliness was so obvious and his connection with Violet through the internet was so raw. The fact he kept sending messages even though she wasn't responding 😭 and I just adore Violet. She's a little firecracker and absolutely makes Cole face things head on.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ARC Review

This was my first Elsie Silver book and it didn’t disappoint. Although it is book two in the Gold Rush Ranch series, it worked well as a stand alone. It introduced a lot of characters that are in her other books. I loved Violet and Cole! There was some real grumpy/sunshine going on here and I love that in a book. Cole was such a multi-faceted character. He had so many sides and just couldn’t only be defined as a soldier with PTSD or a business man. His story really pulled at my heart strings and I just loved how Violet was with him.

There were even a few shocking parts of the book that I didn’t see coming and really enhanced the book and answered so many questions. This is a spicy read and can’t be read by just skipping most of the spice. Some adult themes are woven in, so I can’t fully recommend to the closed door reader. Also some language and you should review the trigger warnings first. Overall I really did enjoy this one!! I loved the horses and the racing and the “western” lifestyle!

Favorite Quote:
“Everything about us feels so unlikely, and yet so fated. After all the bad things that have happened to me in my life, it’s hard to wrap my head around the universe shoving a gift like Violet in my face over and over again. But it’s too much to ignore.”

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the author Elsie Silver and Net Galley for the electronic advanced copy of the book!

I’m genuinely shocked by how bad this book is. I’ve read the Chestnut Springs series and I’ve heard all about Violet and Cole and how amazing their relationship was so I was expecting something great. If this was real life, these two would’ve had an on-again off-again relationship where all they did was fight at parties and write long paragraphs on Facebook about their ‘ups and downs’, had an oopsie baby followed by a shut up ring and a shotgun wedding, another kid to save their relationship, and finally, a messy divorce with tense custody dropoffs and awkward school events for the rest of their lives. The dialogue was cringe, I didn’t get them as a couple, and I really struggled to get through this. When Elsie Silver hits, she hits HARD. But when she misses, someone’s getting clocked in the face with a foul ball. This easily holds the place for my least favorite Elsie book.

Every Elsie book I read, I can't put down! She gives us such wholesome and beautiful love stories where the couples grow together and they learn to fix their broken pieces together! This book was no exception and I fell head over heels for their love story!

So good!! I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I love the characters and setting!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

ABSOLUTELY loved this book. the tragic mmc was to die for. this was by far my favorite elsie silver book she’s ever written.

I loved this book so much! The small town romance was done perfectly! And the romance was amazing! Would highly recommend!

this was kind of just what i needed. it was easy to read, easy to get into. pacing was good. cole wasn’t my favorite mmc but i did like how sensitive he was under his had exterior. i didn’t read the first book in the series and i feel like i had a fine grasp on the setting and characters.

#netgalley

Elsie cannot go wrong with a small town romamce! Thank you for this copy, Elsie delivers once again. Will recommend this series.

Elsie silver has such a way with characters. Especially men who are grumpy for reasons.
This is a quick read with some spice.
I enjoyed it.

I appreciated the real struggle part of the story - something I enjoy with all of her books. Parts were a bit too spicy for me, but I still enjoyed the well-developed characters and setting.