A review by justmevictoria
The Front Runner by Elsie Silver

4.5

She thinks they're faking it, he hopes it's real… 

 

With her two best friends coupled up in engaged and wedded bliss, veterinarian Mira Thorne is feeling a bit like a fifth wheel. Despite this, a relationship isn't really on the agenda. Until Mira starts spending more and more time with Stefan Dalca when Gold Rush Ranch is in need of a mare for their prized orphaned foal. It's safe to say that Stefan is the villain in the eyes of most people at Gold Rush Ranch, but as Mira spends more time with him and slowly gets to know him, there's more to their racing competitor than meets the eye. Stefan has been enthralled by Mira since the moment  he laid eyes on her, having 'jokingly' asked her out several times since. And when she wants a favour of out him, he uses their situation as a way to squeeze three 'fake' dates out of her. Having been hurt or abandoned by almost everyone he's ever loved, it's hard to Stefan to open his heart to someone, but Mira isn't just someone. There's a lot on the line for both of them, if they're willing to risk it all for a chance at forever. 

 

Be still my beating heart, Stefan Dalca you are so FIIINE. Elsie really just makes the leading men of her series better and better with each book - the Harding brothers? Perfection. Stefan Dalca? Absolute perfection! Seriously, I don't blame Mira for falling hard for this brooding 'villain' - I would too! 

 

Both Mira and Stefan have been interesting characters throughout the background of the previous two books, and getting to know either of them more was exciting enough, but to have them both taking the leading roles in the same book just felt so right! He falls first is one of my absolute FAVOURITE tropes, and Stefan embodied everything to love about the trope and more. The chemistry between Mira and Stefan were just sizzling off the page, and the slow burn of it all really paid off. 

 

I swear Elsie injects some sort of drug into her books - the writing, the setting, the characters, and the romance is always TOP TIER, and The Front Runner is no different. Escaping to the world she has created is always one of my favourite things to do, and I'm already dreading a time when I have to wait for a new release… 

 

A bit of a trigger warning for mentions of previous domestic abuse on Stefan's part. It's a really raw part of his storyline that Elsie touches on but doesn't spend a great deal of time going in-depth with - we know it happens and it's a trauma that Stefan has worked to move on from, and that' sit. Another small trigger warning is that of animal death, which is briefly focused on a the beginning of the story. With the story focusing on life on a horse ranch and following a vet, it's to be expected that mentions of animal death will pop up. It's a bit of an emotional start to the story, but one that Elsie handles well from both Mira and Stefan's perspectives. 

 

I really should have listened to the audiobook for this one because I kept forgetting that Stefan had an accent, and just hearing a snippet of the audiobook has me wanting to dive into the story all over again just to Zachary Webber bring Stefan to life! 

 

If you have somehow been living under a rock, make 2025 the year you devour ever single word ever written by Elsie, because you will not be disappointed! Stefan and Mira were absolute perfection, and it's getting harder and harder to choose a favourite Elsie Silver couple! Small town romance girlies won't want to miss this visit to Gold Rush Ranch.