Name: A Photo Finish
ISBN: B09BDFRMX1

Elsie Silver

I've seen every square inch of Violet Eaton's delectable body and she has no idea who I am. Until now. What happened between us online, in our chats, was meant to stay anonymous and in the past. Until it didn't. It's a small world, but Ruby Creek is even smaller. When I move to the tiny town, the grumpy facade I've created slips when we're forced to live under the same roof. Every flush of her cheeks, every time her eyes flare with heat, every time she begs me not to stop, the ice I've encased myself in melts. She has me wanting things I can't want. Things I've been dreaming about since I first laid eyes on her two years ago-things I don't deserve. But my invisible wounds have the power to ruin us both. As a former soldier, I should have the discipline to walk away, but the more I open up to Violet, the more I want to keep her. I came back from the war a different man, but my scars are older and deeper than anyone knows-and I planned to keep it that way. I planned to keep my secrets hidden. Until her.

A Small Town Second Chance Romance (Gold Rush Ranch, Book #2)

A Photo Finish

nanafark

I hate small towns. I hate how friendly they are, that you’re expected to stop and make small talk with people you don’t know and definitely don’t care about. And I hate that everyone knows your business. 

I like my privacy. I like my space, quiet and tidy. And I don’t like being asked probing questions.

I don’t like small stalk. Or strangers. Or how small-town people don’t know how to mind their business.

my dad always told me that if I have nothing nice to say, it’s best not to say anything at all. 

“[…]I can tell you don’t like me. And you know, really, that’s my issue. It’s not my problem if people don’t like me. Not really. But it bugs me, you know?”

She’s fucking beautiful. The kind of beauty that makes you stop and stare. The kind of beauty you want to study. I don’t draw, but suddenly I’m overcome by the need to sketch her face. Her rosebud mouth. To document her. She’s like a porcelain doll.

Don’t pick a man who needs fixing—or changing—to meet your needs. He either wants to, or he doesn’t. And if you need to convince him, he doesn’t love you the way you deserve.

crack! did you hear it? it was my heart! 💔 

“What do you want me to tell you? I never open up to anyone. You think everything between us just started and finished with a photo for me? Like it was easy for me to lose you? To not know if you were okay? To miss you so much it physically hurt? You broke me!”

The light at the end of the dark tunnel. The sunshine my dark existence so desperately needs.

“Maybe you’re not new. Maybe you’re just growing. Nobody stays the same. New goals, new experiences… they’re all building blocks that put a person together. Constantly shifting.”

if making someone a better version of themselves just by being there isn’t love in action, then I don’t know what is.

“You fell in love with that woman’s drive. Her passion. Her spark for life. Her light. What if, rather than throwing that all away, you became her suncatcher? Take that light and amplify it in every way you can. Bask in it. How wondrous to have found it!” She claps her hands excitedly. “But light is tricky. It slips through your fingers. It’s fleeting. It comes and goes. We never get to possess it; you can’t hold it in your hand. We just get to enjoy it. And if you can figure out a way to just let go and enjoy it, well, Cole, you’ll be one of the lucky ones.”

Samantha Waterson

I've been curious about Violet the whole time

Annabella

Meh, I’ve read better, but I liked that there wasn’t a third act break up (in a sense) 

I think I’m gonna keep away from her books for a sec, they are getting to repetitive 

Ester Waclavova

Meh, I’ve read better, but I liked that there wasn’t a third act break up (in a sense) 

I think I’m gonna keep away from her books for a sec, they are getting to repetitive 

anna haskins 

Minahil Fatima 

we love a man who goes to therapy. cole carried the book ngl.

📕 | This book follows Cole Harding, Vaughn’s big brother, and Violet Eaton, Billie’s best friend and the new jockey for Billie’s horse DD, whom we met in the first book, 

. Cole lives in the city running their other family business, but due to a new business venture around the area, he’s forced to come and stay at Gold Rush Ranch for an uncertain period. He is a super grumpy veteran, set on his way, who suffers from severe cases of PTSD and avoids people at all costs. Violet, on the other hand, who is the sweetest creature on earth, is freshly moved away from her overprotective family, and she’s determined to become a new version of herself and achieve her independence. Which is how they came to know each other in the first place…

👍🏼 | This was my absolute favourite in the series. I’m aware that second chance is one of my favourite tropes but this just spoke to my heart. When I tell you that I literally felt my heart squeezing, and multiple times, I mean it, and I think that I haven’t felt it for any other book I’ve read. It was just so sweet and romantic and I loved it.

✍🏼 | It’s so well written, I couldn’t put it down. It alternates between past and present and this way of storytelling is very captivating. Every chapter starts with their past conversations and it blends in beautifully with the present. Also, part of their past is happening in parallel with the first book, which is something that I like in a series. Their characters are also written and developed in a great way and every detail around their world seems studied. Like Cole’s secret which was well kept until the very last chapters.

💖 | Where do I start? Their chats were the perfect way to get to know them and see their dynamic. With their forced proximity, their tension and chemistry were over the top. Violet was so inspiring trying to be a better version of herself. Cole’s internal dialogue and his path of healing were so long and heartbreaking. He is also so charming and sexy and sweet and romantic that my heart aches. I cried so much for him. His deep secrets and pain and how he was constantly sabotaging himself, believing so little of himself made me cry, but it wasn’t frustrating. Violet was literally what he needed in his life and she stood by him so strong. We had again the horse racing element and all this beautiful world and characters around it. And again, we’re having our suspicions and teasers for the next couple, which I can’t wait to talk about!

👎🏼 | I don’t know if there’s anything I didn’t like. Maybe the fact that a few scenes I’d like to be explored more, like when Violet found out about the messages. I wanted to see more there. And more texts especially during the past year were Cole knew who she was but was still living in the city.

💬 | ❝ She’s fucking beautiful. The kind of beauty that makes you stop and stare. The kind of beauty you want to study. ❞

🗣 | If you love second-chance romance, a wounded hero, and a slow burn with some angst, then this book is for you. Another similar book that comes to mind is 

 by Emily Henry, although completely different setting, I had similar feelings about the MMC’s inner struggle.

✨ | Overall, a great book with an amazing plot, lots of steam and spice, very sexy and romantic, beautiful characters and heartwarming moments! I am more than happy I got to read it and I will definitely reread it soon! Off to the next, 

 wounded hero, second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine, small town vibes, slow burn, angst, interconnected standalone

Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶 (3/5) 

📕 | This book follows Cole Harding, Vaughn’s big brother, and Violet Eaton, Billie’s best friend and the new jockey for Billie’s horse DD, whom we met in the first book, Off to the Races. Cole lives in the city running their other family business, but due to a new business venture around the area, he’s forced to come and stay at Gold Rush Ranch for an uncertain period. He is a super grumpy veteran, set on his way, who suffers from severe cases of PTSD and avoids people at all costs. Violet, on the other hand, who is the sweetest creature on earth, is freshly moved away from her overprotective family, and she’s determined to become a new version of herself and achieve her independence. Which is how they came to know each other in the first place…

👍🏼 | This was my absolute favourite in the series. I’m aware that second chance is one of my favourite tropes but this just spoke to my heart. When I tell you that I literally felt my heart squeezing, and multiple times, I mean it, and I think that I haven’t felt it for any other book I’ve read. It was just so sweet and romantic and I loved it.

✍🏼 | It’s so well written, I couldn’t put it down. It alternates between past and present and this way of storytelling is very captivating. Every chapter starts with their past conversations and it blends in beautifully with the present. Also, part of their past is happening in parallel with the first book, which is something that I like in a series. Their characters are also written and developed in a great way and every detail around their world seems studied. Like Cole’s secret which was well kept until the very last chapters.

💖 | Where do I start? Their chats were the perfect way to get to know them and see their dynamic. With their forced proximity, their tension and chemistry were over the top. Violet was so inspiring trying to be a better version of herself. Cole’s internal dialogue and his path of healing were so long and heartbreaking. He is also so charming and sexy and sweet and romantic that my heart aches. I cried so much for him. His deep secrets and pain and how he was constantly sabotaging himself, believing so little of himself made me cry, but it wasn’t frustrating. Violet was literally what he needed in his life and she stood by him so strong. We had again the horse racing element and all this beautiful world and characters around it. And again, we’re having our suspicions and teasers for the next couple, which I can’t wait to talk about!

👎🏼 | I don’t know if there’s anything I didn’t like. Maybe the fact that a few scenes I’d like to be explored more, like when Violet found out about the messages. I wanted to see more there. And more texts especially during the past year were Cole knew who she was but was still living in the city.

💬 | ❝ She’s fucking beautiful. The kind of beauty that makes you stop and stare. The kind of beauty you want to study. ❞

🗣 | If you love second-chance romance, a wounded hero, and a slow burn with some angst, then this book is for you. Another similar book that comes to mind is Happy Place by Emily Henry, although completely different setting, I had similar feelings about the MMC’s inner struggle.

✨ | Overall, a great book with an amazing plot, lots of steam and spice, very sexy and romantic, beautiful characters and heartwarming moments! I am more than happy I got to read it and I will definitely reread it soon! Off to the next, The Front Runner now.

🗂️ | tropes + micro tropes : wounded hero, second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine, small town vibes, slow burn, angst, interconnected standalone

ngl the way they initially met was weird but violet being cole's light GOT ME

"you found me" by the fray

ngl the way they initially met was weird but violet being cole's light GOT ME

A Small Town Second Chance Romance

Amelia 

Elsie Silver is amazing, talented, brilliant, incredible… I cannot get enough of her books!!

The banter and sexual tension between Cole and Violet was spectacular. Also the horses were an adorable added bonus.🐴

Andrea Rodriguez

Ahhh tears. This was so good.

I knew when I read Off to the Races that Cole definitely had a lot going on under the surface, but oof. It truly hurt to read about all his underlying trauma and PTSD in regard to the war and the way his dad died. The author did an incredible job tackling these tough mental health issues in a way that so real and raw. 

I can't decide if I liked the romance between Violet and Cole more, or simply just Cole's journey in overcoming all of his demons. Though really they kind went hand in hand. Violet played a big role in helping him through it all.

Violet was so good for Cole. I loved that she always knew exactly what Cole needed. She didn't coddle or pity him and gave him tough love whenever he needed it. 

This was definitely a unique take on a second chance romance. I enjoyed the excerpts at the beginning of their chapters from their chat conversations in the past. I liked how she slowly revealed these glimpses to what exactly went down between them while still progressing the story in the present.

Like in the first book, I also super enjoyed all of the horse stuff lmao. I've never liked horses and might be afraid to ride one, but these books just might change my mind!!

Also, Billie and Cole at the end had me in tears. I still love Billie so much from the first book - she's so intuitive, smart, and caring and it made me emotional when she helped him not only in getting Violet back but also with his fear/trauma around horses. 

I can't wait to read the next one though I'm so sad cause I think I'll have read everything by this author after that one?? I'm not ready lol.

A Photo Finish A Small Town Second Chance Romance (Gold Rush Ranch, Book #2)