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Elsie Silver
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A Photo Finish: A Small Town Second Chance Romance (Gold Rush Ranch Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Elsie Silver (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 34,402 ratings
Best of #BookTok
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.
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  1. Book 2 of 4
    Gold Rush Ranch
  2. Print length
    420 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    August 13, 2021
  5. File size
    2.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. “I want you. But you need to want you too. I can’t want you enough for the both of us.”
    Highlighted by 6,134 Kindle readers
  2. “I know you see yourself as dark. But you aren’t. You’re swirling color, all different shades, a mosaic. You’re complicated and beautiful. And I’m not quitting on you, so you better not quit on me.”
    Highlighted by 5,715 Kindle readers
  3. “And what if something happens to her?” “But what if nothing happens to her, and you spend the rest of your life missing out on all that light?”
    Highlighted by 5,158 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

A Photo Finish
"You don't look at me like I'm tragic."
"You look at me like we're inevitable."

Editorial Reviews

Review

  • "Catnip for broken, broody hero lovers. I adored this angsty, swoony enemies-to-lovers romance." - Annie Dyer, Romance Author

  • "This has so many things I crave in romance: small town, grumpy/sunshine, a damaged hero, a strong heroine, forced proximity, delicious slow burn. I seriously couldn't ask for more." - Shelby, Goodreads

  • "Y'all—my heart. This book. I can't go any farther into my ramblings without saying that "A Photo Finish" annihilated most of my "Top Books of 2021". It also got me out of a major book funk. Push it to the top of your TBR right freaking now." - Lexi, Goodreads

  • "Where are the rest of the stars? Because this book deserves at least 10. Cole and Violet made me feel everything I could feel. Their story and their unusual but oh so sexy way they met and what unfolded later, had me turning the pages like crazy." - Chula Reads Romance, Goodreads

  • "I loved this! The banter was great and the steam was off the charts hot!!" - Stephanie, Goodreads

About the Author

Elsie Silver is a Canadian author of sassy, sexy, small town romance who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. She lives just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and three dogs and has been voraciously reading romance books since before she was probably supposed to.

She loves cooking and trying new foods, traveling, and spending time with her boys–especially outdoors. Elsie has also become a big fan of her quiet five am mornings, which is when most of her writing happens. It’s during this time that she can sip a cup of hot coffee and dream up a fictional world full of romantic stories to share with her readers.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09BDFRMX1
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 13, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 420 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Gold Rush Ranch
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 34,402 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

4.2 out of 5 stars
34,402 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy reading about Cole and Violet's story, appreciating the heartwarming relationship that builds throughout the book. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback for its easy readability and hilarious banter, while the characters are well-developed with Violet being particularly loveable. Additionally, customers praise the book's emotional depth, describing it as uplifting with realistic feelings, and appreciate its strength, with one review noting its gentle yet strong nature.

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145 customers mention "Readability"145 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable, particularly appreciating Cole and Violet's love story.

"...She’s truly a horse and people whisperer. It’s beautiful. I adore her so much!! Just as much as I adore Willa...." Read more

"...Such a great book." Read more

"...It's easy to get lost in Elsie's stories, with their perfect mix of humor and romance...." Read more

"...I adored the unique meet cute between these two, their early conversations and the way they fell for each other without ever meeting in person...." Read more

85 customers mention "Romance"85 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this book, describing it as a heartwarming story of love with a perfect amount of relationship development.

"...Loves without reservation. But also deeply driven and soulful and so devoted to her loved ones. Shes also extremely mature and wise beyond her years...." Read more

"...The secret pining, charged sexual tension, and roommate situation were just the icing on the cake, and this ended up being another very, very solid..." Read more

"...I loved the angst and the push and pull between the characters, but I did get a bit tired of Cole continuously pulling away from Violet...." Read more

"...SO unexpected for our sweet sunshine Violet. I loved getting a taste of the past and how that past brought them to their present and how they..." Read more

61 customers mention "Emotional depth"61 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, noting its realistic feelings and huge heart, finding it uplifting.

"...But also deeply driven and soulful and so devoted to her loved ones. Shes also extremely mature and wise beyond her years...." Read more

"I loved this. All about overcoming life and what it has dealt you. So perfect...." Read more

"...As a woman myself and mom of two daughters, a strong, independent, bad ass woman who knows what she wants and chases it down is always encouraging..." Read more

"...I loved the sexual tension that was woven into the story paired with those heavier undercurrents, which really reminded me of Silver's newer work...." Read more

45 customers mention "Sweetness"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sweet and charming, with Violet being particularly loveable and sassy, while Cole is portrayed as a sweet grumpy/sunshine character.

"...Even though he has some heaviness to him, he’s so tender towards Violet and just adoresssss her. Gah I just love him. So much. 😭..." Read more

"I loved this. All about overcoming life and what it has dealt you. So perfect...." Read more

"...Per usual, Elsie's characters are lovable, witty, and charming...." Read more

"...Violet story was just amazing. Violet is sweet and spunky and determined and you can’t help but love her call on the other hand comes off as a..." Read more

39 customers mention "Character development"39 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the strong personalities and growth of the protagonists, with one customer highlighting the undeniable chemistry between the main characters.

"...Theo, or Beau's spot as my top three Elsie men, but I enjoyed his character growth and watching him face his past and find happiness." Read more

"...face and keeps his walls up sky high, but he is the softest, sweetest man on the inside...." Read more

"...I loved the angst and the push and pull between the characters, but I did get a bit tired of Cole continuously pulling away from Violet...." Read more

"...Pipsqueak was a perfect element in this story. Loved her personality. Definitely recommend this book" Read more

29 customers mention "Series quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as part of the series, with one customer noting it's even better than the first book, and another mentioning it's a great continuation of the ranch storyline.

"...This was another good addition to the series, I am looking forward to the next book in this series." Read more

"This is the third book on the series. I really enjoyed reading about Cole and Violet's story...." Read more

"...Together? Absolute magic. This series has just gotten better and better...." Read more

"...I am loving this series! In this book, I learned more about horse jockeying while following the love story of Violet and Cole...." Read more

24 customers mention "Strength"24 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the strength of the characters in the book, describing them as vulnerable and gentle.

"...But I also fell in love with these characters too. Violet is gentle but strong, the kind of woman who can handle a man like Cole...." Read more

"...Violet story was just amazing. Violet is sweet and spunky and determined and you can’t help but love her call on the other hand comes off as a..." Read more

"Open door. Pretty solid. Second chance love kind of sort of. Horse girl. Army boy. Solid and to the point" Read more

"...The author was able to display emotions and insecurities that you typically wouldn’t hear about in book and there’s diversity in the representation...." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing style"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style of the book, appreciating its well-crafted grumpy/sunshine characters and hilarious banter, with one customer noting it's a perfect mix of humor and romance.

"...Some much more than others, but gah I love Elsie’s writing! Might be her #1 fan at this point...." Read more

"...It's easy to get lost in Elsie's stories, with their perfect mix of humor and romance...." Read more

"...Vanessa Edwin is probably my favorite female narrator, her voice is so relaxing to me...." Read more

"...Violet - she's chirpy, optimistic - the golden retriever to his doberman. Match made in heaven, I say. I loved their chemistry & banter...." Read more

Steamy Horse Racing Romance
3 out of 5 stars
Steamy Horse Racing Romance
STARS I was so excited for Violet’s story in book 2 in the Gold Rush Ranch series! After reading all about her brothers and family in the Chestnut Springs series, I couldn’t wait to finally learn all about her! The book started out strong for me and then, unfortunately, quickly fell flat. I couldn’t get behind the time jumps that felt a little jarring and incomplete. The middle dragged on and on… I was SO ready for Cole to get over his silly issues! I also felt annoyed with Violet and her desire to get away from her overbearing family. It seems a little spoiled to me; she must not have any idea what it would be like to NOT have a supportive family. I wish I could say I loved this one, but I just didn’t. Considering that Elsie’s novel Reckless was in my top 5 of 2024, it surprised me that I didn’t absolutely love this. But that’s okay! Not every book is for every person. SPICE This book is very spicy. And honestly, it has a trope that I haven’t ever read before (internet chatroom steam). It felt weird. HAPPY ENDING It may take until the very last page, but yes, Cole & Violet get their happy ending! FINAL THOUGHTS While this one wasn’t my favorite Elsie Silver story, I’m continuing on to finish the series. Here I come book 3!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Lexy McNutt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hands Down My New Favorite Elsie Silver Book! ❤️🥰😍😭
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
    Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
    Characters: 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

    Oh y’all, where do I start with this one?!?

    Maybe with the fact that I was NOT expecting to freaking cry like a little baby at Violet and Cole’s story 😭🥹😭❤️ I’m a pile of mush after this one!!

    For context, I’ve read the entire Chestnut Springs and Rose Hill series and absolute loveeeed them. Some much more than others, but gah I love Elsie’s writing! Might be her #1 fan at this point.

    Being that I’ve read the others series, I think Violet already had a special place in my heart because I felt like I already knew her. Especially after reading Powerless (Sloane and Jaspers story). Let me tell you, I love her even more than I thought I would.
    She is 100% her father’s daughter🥹. Pure-hearted to the core, sunny and so kind. Loves without reservation. But also deeply driven and soulful and so devoted to her loved ones. Shes also extremely mature and wise beyond her years. She’s the kind of friend every girl needs. She makes other people feel safe to be themselves.🥹

    When it comes to Cole - I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like his character as much because he’s depicted as super cold and grouchy in Billie and Vaughns story. BUT I ***should have known better*** though because the same thing happened to Cade’s character in the first Chestnut Springs (Flawless) book. And Cowboy Cade might be the most 🥵🔥😍🥰🥵of all of Elsie’s guys. So just trust me. Cole is on par with that. Also with the 10 year age difference 🔥
    I will also say, I don’t *love* the whole tortured and closed off trope….usually. But dang, there’s just something about Cole 🥵🥵🥵. Weak in the knees. Even though he has some heaviness to him, he’s so tender towards Violet and just adoresssss her. Gah I just love him. So much. 😭

    Cole and Violet have a very deep, tender, and soulful connection. This story is the perfect depiction of safe, secure love, and how that type of love can be deeply healing. With that said, there’s also a refreshingly simple, lighthearted aspect of their love that I just melted over. There’s an inevitability to them that reminds me so much of Cade & Willa and Theo & Winter (my favs ❤️)

    I should also mention that their chemistry is intoxicating. Off the charts. Like made me blush and swoon too many times to count. The spark was sparking until it was a whole dang forest fire 🥵🔥🌶️🥵🌶️🥵🌶️🔥

    Also, let me just say how much I freaking ADORE Billie. Omg that is my girl!!! And we get to meet a different side to her in this book after just reading her story in Off To The Races. She and Willa Grant could be sisters - they have VERY similar personalities in that they ride hard for the ones the love, aren’t intimidated by grumpy closed off guys, and have the most refreshing and loving spirits. Billie has an incredible way of making even the most difficult people feel so safe and secure in her presence. Be it a horse or a grown man, she has such a beautiful healing quality to her that just squeezes my heart. She’s truly a horse and people whisperer. It’s beautiful. I adore her so much!! Just as much as I adore Willa.

    I also LOVEEEEE Billie and Cole’s exchanges - especially all of Chapter 27. I could re-read it over and over. It broke my heart in the best way. Completely melted. Ugh 😭❤️

    I especially loved Elsie’s addition of the horses personalities and what they represented. Horses are truly like people and can teach us so much about ourselves and she so beautifully depicted that in this story. Sweet little Pipsqueak was so healing for Cole and I swear I turned into a puddle at the end of their story. In the best way 🥹😭🥰❤️ Im already wanting to read this again.

    Ok that’s it. Clearly I love Elsie Silver. ❤️
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  • Kim Gauger
    4.0 out of 5 stars overcoming and beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this. All about overcoming life and what it has dealt you. So perfect. I love Cole and his struggles with everything that has happened to him and the younger violet is perfect for him. Such a great book.
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  • aubrey
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read, but not the best in the series imo
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Having previously read (devoured and ADORED!) the entire Chestnut Springs Series, I decided it was about time to go back and read the series that started it all. All of Elsie's books for me thus far have been four or five stars, but this one was a bit difficult for me.

    In A Photo Finish, we get to know Ms. Independence Personified in none other than Violet Eaton. If you're backwards like me, you know Violet is the little sis of all the Eaton brothers from the Chestnut Springs Series. Violet moved away from home to find herself, not wanting to be coddled by her older brothers and father any longer. She not only established herself in her career, but became incredibly successful. Violet's only issue? Her past internet 'fling' not staying in the past OR on the internet....

    Enter Cole, who takes broody and moody to a whole new level, though rightfully so. Childhood trauma, war PTSD, past relationship issues.. you name it, Cole's struggling with it.

    Per usual, Elsie's characters are lovable, witty, and charming. I felt connected to both Cole and Violet, though having not much in common with either one of them. It's easy to get lost in Elsie's stories, with their perfect mix of humor and romance.

    One of the main reasons this book is three instead of four (or five) stars for me personally is the timeline felt a bit off and it felt like this book was lacking some detail the story needed, in my opinion. Starting off, I had a hard time getting past the year gap from when Cole 'outed' himself to when Violet was injured and he ended up at the Ranch. Having read the Chestnut Springs books first, I was hoping to get more information on Violet's relationship with her family, but it felt like that was also semi glossed over and her past/family was always mentioned in passing. I felt like the lack of information carried out throughout the book some and felt like I had a hard time immersing myself in the story because I felt like I was being rushed through it.

    Overall, I enjoyed watching Violet thrive on her own. As a woman myself and mom of two daughters, a strong, independent, bad ass woman who knows what she wants and chases it down is always encouraging and inspiring to read. Cole didn't steal Jasper, Theo, or Beau's spot as my top three Elsie men, but I enjoyed his character growth and watching him face his past and find happiness.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lena2412
    5.0 out of 5 stars WOW
    Reviewed in Germany on April 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    must read
    Report
  • Liz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
    Reviewed in France on September 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book as part of Julia's Book Club and am so glad I did. I wouldn't have picked this book up on my own and therefore would have missed out on something really nice, on a smooth and beautiful writing, and engaging characters.

    I especially loved the way Elsie fleshes out her characters with each new chapter, revealing more about their past, or just making them evolve and grow.

    I certainly didn't expect to get attached to horses haha, being scared of them myself, but I did in this book, as the two horses here are an integral part of the story and are characters (secondary but important) in their own right.

    Cole is a really interesting and appealing character and I'm pleasantly surprised by the direction the author took, choosing not to go for the cliché of the woman who will take care of him and heal him. Yes, she is there for him, yes, she loves him with all her heart, but it is also up to him to work on himself. It is rare that a romance deals with this subject with so much insight, without falling into the easy way of the woman who saves the hero.

    In short, a beautiful story to discover, a writing style to remember and a new author to follow closely.
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  • book_lover_jess
    4.0 out of 5 stars The way I melted for Cole & Violet.
    Reviewed in Australia on December 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    These two just hit differently. Violet's patience with Cole and understanding of what he was/going through was the sweetest thing ever.

    My favourite quote is. "I don't like you enough to help you bury a body." had me squealing at a ridiculous hour of the night.

    My second favourite quote was from Vaughn. "And even if I did, I'm all for women taking charge of their sexuality!" This had me trying not to scream at 2:30 am. Do you know how that was? I tell you very hard.

    Stars: 4.5/5
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  • Stephania
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on February 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great book! Loved it!
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  • Rainbowlovesbooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Photo finished perfection!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    OK so I'm aware there are another 2.5 books in the series. But Elsie has delivered with photo finish. I have devoured this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.
    I loved Cole and Violet, I love the story, their history and the "twist" with Cole which I didn't see coming at all.
    I just want to hug Cole and tell him everything will be OK, and as for Violet I want to be her best friend (move over Billie and Mira).
    Excellent character arcs, brilliant story line 5/5 stars!!
    Report

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