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BOOKWORM REVIEW: A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver

 

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I feel like Stefan from SNL when I say this book had everything. Grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, age gap, second chances, slow burn.

But while you would expect a stack of tropes to be a hot mess, this book was nowhere near. It was captivating. Elsie Silver's storytelling was sublime; this book was like a puzzle being slowly unraveled as we learn more about Cole and Violet.

We open the book with Violet's win on the horse track. (NOTE: I realize this was part of a series, but this book did really well as a standalone since I did not read the other two. That's going to change soon, though.) Her victory high was somewhat cut short when Cole introduces himself as the brother of the guy who owns the ranch where Violet works. Violet also happens to know Cole previously from her very short stint as an exhibitionist.

Cole has a tragic past that made him into the broody, isolated grump that he is. As more of what happens to him is revealed, I felt so deeply for him and wished really hard that he would get his HEA. Even though he sometimes can't help himself when it comes to being a loner, Violet's bright and sassy personality seems to draw him in.  It also doesn't help his cause that he's seen her in her birthday suit and he likes it..a lot.

The banter between these two just helps build that tension. When it does erupt, I was almost scared that my Kindle would catch on fire because they were so hot.

Kids, the book hangover is real, and I am not sure if my regular cure will help this go around.  This book will give you such deep feels, so be prepared.  But if I had a choice, I would do it all over again, because this book was just THAT GOOD.

**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

A Photo Finish is available on August 13th.

PURCHASE LINKS
Free with Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE
#0 Out of the Gate: https://amzn.to/3lVoe01
#1 Off to the Races: https://amzn.to/3jJCOVu
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