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Elsie Silver
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A False Start: A Small Town Brother's Best Friend Romance (Gold Rush Ranch Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Elsie Silver (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 26,526 ratings
Best of #BookTok
I kissed my best friend’s little sister, and the world stood still.

That night we were two perfect strangers, the town’s grumpy recluse and a gorgeous girl in the back of a bar. Until we weren’t.

Because Nadia Dalca isn’t just some girl. She’s the girl I can’t have. Fourteen years younger than me and completely off-limits.

My plan is to stay away, but the universe keeps pushing us together. It’s like some sort of cosmic joke, to give me a taste of something so electric—so real—something that breathed life back into me.

Because I can look, but I can’t touch.

Her sinful curves, her light-hearted laughter, her wild side . . . I’m addicted to every last bit of her.

And when she turns those sultry eyes on me––the ones so full of longing and so free of judgement? I’ve always considered myself a strong man. But when she looks at me I’m weak.

To give in to our connection would be a betrayal. My life is beyond complicated, and she has the world at her fingertips. Her brother is the only family she has left, and sad as it sounds, he’s also my only friend.

But I kissed her again anyway.

And now I can’t stop.
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  1. Book 4 of 4
    Gold Rush Ranch
  2. Print length
    440 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 18, 2022
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

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  1. “I think in some cases, age is just a way to measure the number of years you spent without the person meant for you.”
    Highlighted by 5,547 Kindle readers
  2. “Call me Griffy again, and I’ll spank you like the little brat that you are.”
    Highlighted by 5,385 Kindle readers
  3. Wildflower. She doesn’t want to be tamed, and I shouldn’t want to try this badly. I should steer her in the opposite direction and send her running.
    Highlighted by 3,518 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

A False Start
Wildflower
All your words

Editorial Reviews

Review

  • "Forbidden love? Age gap? The CHEMISTRY? Yes, yes, yes." - Shelby, Goodreads

  • "One thing is guaranteed whenever I pick an Elsie Silver romance....she will make me smile and swoon and then make me fall in love with every character instantly." - Jens Dreamy Little Reads, Goodreads

  • "A FALSE START has earned a spot on my Top Ten List of 2022." - Judy Ann Loves Books, Goodreads

  • "Talk about a dirty talker! Griffin is the epitome of an alpha-roll!" - Love Books Addict, Goodreads

  • "This book is everything that I love in a small town romance. It's angsty, great family dynamics, and that small town ranch life." - Priscilla, Goodreads

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09R2FTG11
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (March 18, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 18, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 440 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 26,526 ratings

About the author

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Elsie Silver

Elsie Silver

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Elsie Silver is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of sassy, steamy, small town romance. She’s a born and raised Canadian girl who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. Her books promise banter, tension, and a slow burn that comes to a screeching halt.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
26,526 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this romance book to be a favorite in the series, with a beautiful love story and wonderful conclusion to the Gold Rush series. The book features a complicated but strong heroine, and one customer notes how it allows characters to show vulnerability. Customers describe it as an emotional angsty read that holds readers until the end, with one review highlighting how it spans several years.

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116 customers mention "Readability"116 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as swoon-worthy and one of their favorite books in the series.

"...Overall, this was an incredible absolutely wonderful read and it has earned a top spot for me...." Read more

"This is has to be my favorite book of the series. Griffin is a loner until he meets Nadia...." Read more

"What a beautiful end to such an amzing series. This ended on such a good, and I'm officially finished with this series...." Read more

"...passion and love they had for each other was great and I loved everything about this book." Read more

83 customers mention "Romance"83 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as sweet and full of love, with one customer noting its incredibly endearing nature.

"...This book was beautiful and it perfectly captured the messy insecure feelings that come with wanting a life for ourselves but wanting true happiness..." Read more

"What a beautiful end to such an amzing series. This ended on such a good, and I'm officially finished with this series...." Read more

"...it and more i love the found family and how until the end it was so cute and healthy to read that i cried...." Read more

"...their past making their romance something that is so forbidden yet so beautiful ...." Read more

61 customers mention "Story quality"56 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it a wonderful conclusion to the series with an ending that makes them swoon.

"...This story is so good and a great way to end the series. If you are looking for a romance book with a good plot twist this is the one." Read more

"What a great ending to the series. I loved the growth these two went through in this book and it also proved that age is really just a number...." Read more

"...over and over but I appreciated the character growth and the ending had me swooning...." Read more

"Nadia and Griff 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 I love them so much and this was a perfect ending to this series!..." Read more

54 customers mention "Character development"54 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the complicated but strong heroine and one swoony hero, with one customer highlighting how the author allows characters to show vulnerability.

"...From the character development, to the heart, to the reality of growing and healing yourself...." Read more

"...I was never bored or uninterested. The characters were deep enough and well written to feel like this wasn't just some surface level connection or..." Read more

"...They just got better and better griffin and Nadia are EVERYTHING...." Read more

"...went from hot to cold and back again over and over but I appreciated the character growth and the ending had me swooning...." Read more

23 customers mention "Writing quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its readability and emotional depth, with one customer highlighting the author's skill in crafting steamy scenes.

"...The characters were deep enough and well written to feel like this wasn't just some surface level connection or love. No...." Read more

"...i love the found family and how until the end it was so cute and healthy to read that i cried...." Read more

"...Elsie Silver is a good author so I don't think you'll go wrong with any of her books. At the very least, it's a good read...." Read more

"Loved this series and all her other series! She’s such a great writer! Can’t wait to read more from her" Read more

21 customers mention "Family history"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the family dynamics in the book, particularly the wonderful found family and brother's best friend romance, with one customer noting how the characters grow into a family by choice.

"...I loved it and more i love the found family and how until the end it was so cute and healthy to read that i cried...." Read more

"...The found family aspect and the tension in this book. Both excellent!" Read more

"Once again this series had me in happy tears at the end. Such a good heartfelt and spicy series I couldn't out down" Read more

"...Great characters. Wonderful found family. Some forbidden goodness. Secrets. Undeniable chemistry and all the banter!! You can't miss." Read more

20 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its strong-willed characters and ability to overcome obstacles, with one customer highlighting how it spans multiple years.

"So good. I usually hate age gaps. This was done right. So good I almost broke my glasses. The memories this book brought up." Read more

"...My reason.” I LOVED how this book spanned a few years...." Read more

"...This book is no exception. Nadia is a strong-willed, young heroine with bright plans for the future and a broken past...." Read more

"...Nadia is such a strong and resilient FMC, she does whatever she can to heal and set her own path to success...." Read more

14 customers mention "Emotional content"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as an angsty read that made them cry, with one customer highlighting the emotional journey between Griff and Nadia.

"I never cry. This book had such a heart wrenching/good last 1/4 of the book to the point where it’s 1:30am and I’m just now finishing...." Read more

"Once again this series had me in happy tears at the end. Such a good heartfelt and spicy series I couldn't out down" Read more

"This was such an emotional angsty read. First of all the banter between the FMC and the MMC was amazing...." Read more

"...Their delicious push and pull, flirty and yet heartaching story is full of all the feels and steamy perfection...." Read more

Age Gap x Brothers Best Friend
4 out of 5 stars
Age Gap x Brothers Best Friend
✩4.5 ✦What to Expect✦ • Age gap (14 years) • Brothers best friend • Small town • Grumpy x Sunshine ✦The Couple✦ Griffin & Nadia ✦Fav Quotes✦ “I thought you looked like you were supposed to be mine” “Meet you at the top, Sinclarie?” “Meet you at the top, Wildflower” “My girl. My Reason. My Wildflower. Forever” ✦Thoughts✦ I am always here for an age gap romance & a brothers best friend romance and this one was deliciously good. Also, talk about starting off with a bang lol. The connection & chemistry between these two was hot af, that tent scene! I enjoyed seeing the evolution of Mira from The Front Runner. But I loved these two together so much, the last 25% really got me in my feels. We stan a man who doesn’t want to hold back a woman from reaching her goals. But Griffin is this grumpy misunderstood man, and I just wanted to hug him.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jordyn Purser
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have no words 🥺🥺
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Just when I think this book could not be better than the last one I was easily proven wrong. From the character development, to the heart, to the reality of growing and healing yourself. This book was beautiful and it perfectly captured the messy insecure feelings that come with wanting a life for ourselves but wanting true happiness at the same time. Overall, this was an incredible absolutely wonderful read and it has earned a top spot for me. So with that said I invite you to take a journey and embrace Nadia and Giffins story, believe me it is one that you will remember in all the best ways!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Linda Armstrong
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is has to be my favorite book of the series. Griffin is a loner until he meets Nadia. He wants to give her the world bit also is struggling with his own demons.
    Nadia is finally finding herself but when she meets Griffin she knows he is the one for her but it's getting him to see the potential he has is even a bigger struggle.
    This story is so good and a great way to end the series. If you are looking for a romance book with a good plot twist this is the one.
    Helpful
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  • Lyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What a beautiful end to such an amzing series. This ended on such a good, and I'm officially finished with this series.
    Right from the start I knew I was going to love this. I mean, come on. Age gap? Brother's best friend? YES PLEASE! The chemistry between her and Griffin was just so magical and special and it played out so well. I LOVED IT! It's a much slower pace romance, but I think the slowness of the build-up is one of the things I loved most about this book, and really any romance book. It really felt like it was worth it. The tension between those two was through the roof. This book was not what I was expecting but it exceeded any expectations I could have had.
    I'm so sad that this series is over, but I'm beyond happy to have had the chance to be able to meet these characters. I was never bored or uninterested. The characters were deep enough and well written to feel like this wasn't just some surface level connection or love. No. This was deep rooted and had you really rooting for them the entire book.
    My heart is full but l'm so sad to let these characters go, I really built a connection with them through reading this series. This is one that I will definitely not be letting go for a long time.
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars A false start
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    To be honest i didn't think I'd like it so much!!!!! I went itno it blindly and i didn't know what to expect and i was shocked most of the time. I loved it and more i love the found family and how until the end it was so cute and healthy to read that i cried. Of course the main characters had their ups and downs and their own demons but i liked their healing journey and how they did it on their own. I wanted to know them a little more or at least to see them together a little longer. It was a beautiful story and I'm happy that i got to read it on kindle and listen to it. I can't wait for the Wild side to come out and read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Helpful
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  • Kim Gauger
    4.0 out of 5 stars loved this
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What a great ending to the series. I loved the growth these two went through in this book and it also proved that age is really just a number. The passion and love they had for each other was great and I loved everything about this book.
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  • Book Club Blackouts
    5.0 out of 5 stars crying
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    My fav Elsie book of the series! They just got better and better griffin and Nadia are EVERYTHING. I cried at the 3rd act break up but the reunion was so sweet ughhh sad this is the last Elsie book I had to read to finish her bibliography, but it was sooo good.
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  • Stephanie Paris
    5.0 out of 5 stars speechless
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I never cry. This book had such a heart wrenching/good last 1/4 of the book to the point where it’s 1:30am and I’m just now finishing. Ugh damn that was good.

    Their journey is one where it builds and you feel their history and their past making their romance something that is so forbidden yet so beautiful .

    you also are taken on this subplot of their traumas and how it’s effected each of their lives.

    The found family aspect and the tension in this book. Both excellent!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amy A.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Age gap + slow burn in the final Gold Rush Ranch book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    📚 A False Start
    ✍ Elsie Silver
    📖 Western Romance
    ⭐ 4/5
    🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

    ➡ In the final book of the Gold Rush Ranch series, Stefan Dalca's younger sister Nadia finds her forever with former golden boy turned recluse Griffin Sinclaire.

    🎯 What I loved: Griffin's grand gesture was my favorite of the entire Gold Rush Ranch series and I loved the underlying message of this book: that you have to love and put the work in on yourself before you can commit to someone else. It took a while to get there and the back and forth in Nadia and Griffin's relationship gave me serious whiplash as they went from hot to cold and back again over and over but I appreciated the character growth and the ending had me swooning.

    🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: There was a LOT of will they/won't they back and forth in this one and at first, I didn't get the purely physical flirtation happening between Nadia and Griffin. The ending gave me ALL the feels though, so it was worth the torment it took to get there.
    ◾
    Read if you love:
    *small town
    *age gap
    *grumpy & sunshine
    *brother's best friend
    *two broken souls that need healing
    *lots of animal love
    *traumatic brain injury rep.
    ◾
    See also: Twisted Love, Shadows of You, Hopeless
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • ValSmith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Elsie Silver doesn't disappoint once again!
    Reviewed in Canada on March 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Love love love this 4th instalment in the Gold Rush Ranch series.
    Brother's best friend, age gap, small town contemporary romance with tension so hot you'll sweat your pants off and delicious spice that will challenge your poker face when reading in public. By the way, this book was the hottest in the series.
    Nadia is a young woman, who is trying to find her path out of a dark past. I loved her resilience, her spunk, her fire. Griffin is a grumpy man, ex-football star, living recluse in the mountains. He is the perfect swoon-worthy book boyfriend, who can't help but want to protect Nadia even though he tries to stay away. And what is hotter than a man who's a total softie for animals?
    Elsie Silver's stories and characters will suck you right in. I got attached to these characters like no others. They are so fun, flawed but relatable. The romance always progresses at a pace that permits you to be drawn in and feel everything with the characters.
    In this book, I especially liked how the characters were communicating throughout their struggles, which made the story so much more believable and relatable to me, and took out all unnecessary drama. Elsie Silver doesn't rely on usual or expected tropes and brings us on a journey in her books that we can't get enough of.
    As always, Elsie Silver's attention to details makes even the animals an essential part of the story. The horses have a purpose and their relation with the characters are endearing and touching. I particularly love how the author normalizes going to therapy when you go through difficulties and how she portraits the therapeutic effects of working with animals.
    This romance was fun, touching, sweet hot and so much more. Elsie Silver is a one click author for me, and she have yet to disappoint me!
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  • Gabriela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adorei
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Acho tão sensacional quando os personagens lutam contra os próprios demônios, superam suas próprias inseguranças. Uma leitura linda, emocional, super recomendado
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love hurts and heals
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I've loved reading this book along with the others ,I found this one more story telling then sex ! The writing of emotions felt by the characters true to live as I've loved the older man scene and enjoyed revisiting my own story but not in those circumstances ! I didn't dislike anything and. Recommend this book and series to the romantics you will enjoy fully
    Report
  • Claudia. W
    5.0 out of 5 stars I think this one is up there with my favourite
    Reviewed in Australia on December 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This story is beautiful. I'm not usually a huge fan of an age gap but I absolutely adore Griffin's character and his story, I also love Nadia's story and her strength. Together their pasta and traumas are devastating but I really loved reading about the way they supported each other. It was a stunning story. I just loved it
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  • Dagmar Müller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Schnelle Lieferung. Entspricht meinen Vorstellungen
    Reviewed in Germany on December 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Meine Enkelin hat sich das Buch zu Weihnachten gewünscht.
    Report

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