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A review by justmevictoria
A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver
4.5
Which will hurt less - falling from a horse or falling in love?
Moving back to Ruby Creek and Gold Rush Ranch wasn't on Cole Harding's bucket list. But with a new investment company the next town over in need of a serious overhaul, it's the only accommodation option he has. And as if being away from the hustle and bustle of the city wasn't enough, he's now in close proximity to the woman he's not stopped thinking about for the past year. Violet Eaton is still crushed by her online situationship turning to shit, and now that she knows the guy she was slowly falling in love with is her boss's boss, she's determined to keep her distance. However that plan goes out the window when Violet injures herself during a race and needs to recover somewhere without stairs. The only suitable place to stay is in the big house where Cole is currently living. Forced to face their past, Violet and Cole are also pushed to start breaking down their walls and open up to one another. Both have past trauma that they haven't fully learned to deal with, and if being together is what they both want, they're going to have to bare their scars and face their fears together, or deal with the inevitable heartbreak.
Violet's story has been the one I've been hanging out for from the moment we meet her in the Chestnut Springs books and got a glimpse into her life (yes, I know this series came out first, but I obviously didn't start with it!). Elsie has really just gone from strength-to-strength with her books - she really does have a gift for creating complex and relatable characters who feel so real and pull at your heartstrings in all the right ways. I felt like I was besties with Violet and feeling all the feels she was feeling.
Despite the tension in their relationship from the moment they reconnect, it's clear that Violet and Cole have some undeniable chemistry, with every scene and interacting between then charged with tension and heart. Both with their own personal baggage and vulnerability, they both have to go through a lot on their own and together in order for them to open themselves up to finally following their heart. I loved watching their relationship evolve as they navigate their insecurities and fears to find trust in each other, and ultimately live as their truest selves, without the walls and secrets.
Elsie truly knows how to capture small-town life, both its charms and quirks, and that's coming from someone who lives in and grew up in a small town. There's just something about small-town and rural life that I cannot get enough of, and I continue to live by the belief that Elsie is lacing her books with something addictive, because I adore being pulled into her world. Her writing is engaging, witty, and filled with so much emotion, it’s easy to get lost in every page. The crew that make up the world of Gold Rush Ranch are all so fun, and like with all companion novel series, it's fun to get to know them little by little before they step into the role of main character, and to continue following their stories after they've had their time in the spotlight.
If you don't know it by now, you should know that I cannot recommend Elsie's books more highly, and this installment in her un-put-downable universe is everything I've come to love about her work and more! Get around the small-town romance genre and dive into an absolutely fabulously swoony read!