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Gold Rush Ranch #1
Off to the Races
A small-town enemies to lovers romance and the debut novel from the bestselling author of Flawless and Wild Love.
Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue… until Billie waltzes onto my property.
She’s talented, feisty and so damn tempting. We clash from the moment we meet, and I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg. I can't stop thinking about her, period.
And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep my distance. Billie is the whole package: whip-smart with a body I fantasise about, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business – and me. She drives me crazy, but the more time we spend together, the more I crave her: her lips, her trust, her heart… I want it all.
But at what cost? Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.
Features an exclusive prequel novella, limited to this paperback edition!
Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue… until Billie waltzes onto my property.
She’s talented, feisty and so damn tempting. We clash from the moment we meet, and I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg. I can't stop thinking about her, period.
And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep my distance. Billie is the whole package: whip-smart with a body I fantasise about, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business – and me. She drives me crazy, but the more time we spend together, the more I crave her: her lips, her trust, her heart… I want it all.
But at what cost? Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.
Features an exclusive prequel novella, limited to this paperback edition!
480 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2021
About the author
Elsie Silver
16 books36.7k followersCanadian author who loves a good book boyfriend and the sassy heroines who bring them to their knees. Connoisseur of charged looks and lingering touches. Big fan of witty banter. Horse girl through and through. Fully convinced that it's always wine o'clock somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,540 reviews
June 5, 2023
billie had better chemistry with her horse than vaughn lol
June 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
September 29, 2024
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ “Fucking my employee is off the table. The farm is in too much trouble. But fucking with my employee… now that’s another story altogether. Off to the races, honey.” 🐎🤠🏞️
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
˚₊· ➳❥ This is probably really more like a 2.5 star book for me but I really love Elsie Silver so I'm just gonna sprinkle a little love on it and round up. 🪄
Elsie is one of those authors for me, that not every book that she churns out in a series blows me away or strikes my fancy but I can't give up on her because then she hits me with an amazing story that exceeds my expectations.
˚₊· ➳❥ Someone reviewed this and said 'Billie had more chemistry with the horse than she did Vaugn' and I co-sign that all day long.
They went from bickering to banging pretty quickly but I didn't really feel the development of their relationship. The love felt like it came out of thin air.
The pet names in this were just weird. Having read all of the Chestnut Springs series I'm not really surprised. Shout out to everyone that knows Sugar Tits. But 'Bossman' felt even worse. Idk if that's even possible but please tighten that up Elsie.
The FMC does this thing where she does or says something and then mutters to herself 'cringe, cringe, cringe' - so obviously the author knows it's cringe, let's just not make her cringe? Imagine that? 💡
╰┈➤˗ˏˋ I both listened and read this on my kindle and let me just say - avoid the audio if at all possible. Listening to the male narrator moan and squeal in 'Billie's voice' was the most cringe thing ever. Puke.
For those who are wondering - these aren't interconnected with Chestnut Springs, although Violet the Eaton sister will be more prevalent in book 2.
This is Silver's debut novel and for that it's pretty damn impressive and worth the read. Can't wait to get to the next one.
˚｡⋆❀˖° “She’s a live wire, and I am the idiot happy to see what happens when I pick up the loose end. When those walls come down, and I know they will, she and I will light each other on fire.”୨୧
⠀⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:
⠀⠀ `·. ݂࣭ ୨୧
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
︵‿୨♡୧‿︵
˚₊· ➳❥ This is probably really more like a 2.5 star book for me but I really love Elsie Silver so I'm just gonna sprinkle a little love on it and round up. 🪄
Elsie is one of those authors for me, that not every book that she churns out in a series blows me away or strikes my fancy but I can't give up on her because then she hits me with an amazing story that exceeds my expectations.
˚₊· ➳❥ Someone reviewed this and said 'Billie had more chemistry with the horse than she did Vaugn' and I co-sign that all day long.
They went from bickering to banging pretty quickly but I didn't really feel the development of their relationship. The love felt like it came out of thin air.
The pet names in this were just weird. Having read all of the Chestnut Springs series I'm not really surprised. Shout out to everyone that knows Sugar Tits. But 'Bossman' felt even worse. Idk if that's even possible but please tighten that up Elsie.
The FMC does this thing where she does or says something and then mutters to herself 'cringe, cringe, cringe' - so obviously the author knows it's cringe, let's just not make her cringe? Imagine that? 💡
╰┈➤˗ˏˋ I both listened and read this on my kindle and let me just say - avoid the audio if at all possible. Listening to the male narrator moan and squeal in 'Billie's voice' was the most cringe thing ever. Puke.
For those who are wondering - these aren't interconnected with Chestnut Springs, although Violet the Eaton sister will be more prevalent in book 2.
This is Silver's debut novel and for that it's pretty damn impressive and worth the read. Can't wait to get to the next one.
˚｡⋆❀˖° “She’s a live wire, and I am the idiot happy to see what happens when I pick up the loose end. When those walls come down, and I know they will, she and I will light each other on fire.”୨୧
⠀⠀:¨ ·.· ¨:
⠀⠀ `·. ݂࣭ ୨୧
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
May 26, 2022
Step aside, Elsie Silver is our new Shania Twain.
ALEXA PLAY ANY MAN OF MINE
THIS BOOK IS GONNA GET EVERY BARBIE HORSE DREAM YOU HAVE EVER HAD, PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A BOX AND SHIP YOU TO THAT PINK STABLE YOUR MOM NEVER HAD MONEY TO BUY
A horse girl book shouldn't have been this good AND YET...
A spicy horse-girl love story, falling in love with her grumpy, rude boss, giving you the most delicious bickering and the most exciting sexual tension.
I sang to my little ponies' opening song for eight days after finishing this.
Elsie surprised the sh!t out of me with her fluid writing, her relatable characters, she made me CRY ABOUT A HORSE. Yes, that is correct. She gave the main horse in this book a more complex personality than I have ever seen in most men in romance books AND IN REAL LIFE.
I have no words, I am so excited I found another series of stand-alones to freak out about. I can't wait to jump to the next one.
These characters were funny, relatable, entertaining, this writing was light and romantic, and juicy and...
I am ready to live all my horse girl dreams, braid my hair, buy some boots and even lie about NOT being liberal as fuck, just so I can have a man watch me with lust as I gracefully ride a horse and wear tight horse trainer pants.
This had a couple of cringy dirty talk lines but I don't even care, this was amazing and I had a blast. Four BRILLIANT stars.
September 4, 2024
—— 1.75 ✰ stars.
GOOD LORD, WAR IS OVER.
I swear to god this book felt endless, i had to skim through it since the 50% of the book. It was so dull, boring, cliche and ridiculous,i wish i could have dnfed it, but since i plan to continue the series, i don’t like to leave a book unfinished, in case i miss something.
➷ plot:
We follow Vaughn Harding, owner of the Gold Rush Ranch, his grandfather just died and a scandal about him fixing races just arises. He decides that he needs to fix the ranch reputation and for that he hires Billie Black, a horse trainer, and gives her an impossible task, make the horse, Double Diablo win.
I have to admit that DD’s plot and his relationship with Billie was very endearing, but the rest of the book is yawn worthy.
➷ billie black:
as she says, cringe cringe cringe. She is a female badass wannabe, she is not funny at all even she tries so hard to be, I have literally nothing else to say about her personality, basically because she has none.
➷ vaughn harding:
he is the boss of a farm but when he is there he wears suits, has nothing to offer the book neither the plot, he is boring, basic, horny. I swear I wish I could be more eloquent about this but there is nothing to be eloquent about.
➷ vaughn + billie:
they had zero chemistry, and non existent romantic development, she calls him “boss man” and he calls her “mowgli”, just ew.
Also, during the smut, that was bad, she calls his dick “Monster” yes, with capital “M”.
The fact that this is sold as an enemies to lovers blows my mind because literally they just start with the wrong foot but undress each others with their minds at the same time.
some examples:
“Good morning, Monster.” Her confident grip slides up and down, and I swell even more, filling her hand.” (the fuck)
“You’re an animal, Mowgli.”
“I open my eyes, like a total middle school creep, and watch her. She’s pouring herself into our kiss, and the weight of it almost knocks the air from my lungs.”(tell me why this was necessary)
summarizing, this was plain bad, i know it’s her first novel, and im sure when i say she definitely gets better, but this was like swallowing sand.
➷ a couple of quotes:
literally a couple lol.
”Off to the races, honey.”
GOOD LORD, WAR IS OVER.
I swear to god this book felt endless, i had to skim through it since the 50% of the book. It was so dull, boring, cliche and ridiculous,i wish i could have dnfed it, but since i plan to continue the series, i don’t like to leave a book unfinished, in case i miss something.
➷ plot:
We follow Vaughn Harding, owner of the Gold Rush Ranch, his grandfather just died and a scandal about him fixing races just arises. He decides that he needs to fix the ranch reputation and for that he hires Billie Black, a horse trainer, and gives her an impossible task, make the horse, Double Diablo win.
“Sometimes all you need is one person’s unwavering faith.”
I have to admit that DD’s plot and his relationship with Billie was very endearing, but the rest of the book is yawn worthy.
➷ billie black:
as she says, cringe cringe cringe. She is a female badass wannabe, she is not funny at all even she tries so hard to be, I have literally nothing else to say about her personality, basically because she has none.
➷ vaughn harding:
he is the boss of a farm but when he is there he wears suits, has nothing to offer the book neither the plot, he is boring, basic, horny. I swear I wish I could be more eloquent about this but there is nothing to be eloquent about.
➷ vaughn + billie:
“She’s a live wire, and I am the idiot happy to see what happens when I pick up the loose end.”
they had zero chemistry, and non existent romantic development, she calls him “boss man” and he calls her “mowgli”, just ew.
Also, during the smut, that was bad, she calls his dick “Monster” yes, with capital “M”.
The fact that this is sold as an enemies to lovers blows my mind because literally they just start with the wrong foot but undress each others with their minds at the same time.
some examples:
“Good morning, Monster.” Her confident grip slides up and down, and I swell even more, filling her hand.” (the fuck)
“You’re an animal, Mowgli.”
“I open my eyes, like a total middle school creep, and watch her. She’s pouring herself into our kiss, and the weight of it almost knocks the air from my lungs.”(tell me why this was necessary)
summarizing, this was plain bad, i know it’s her first novel, and im sure when i say she definitely gets better, but this was like swallowing sand.
➷ a couple of quotes:
“Sometimes you’re born into a family, and other times you choose them. And when you choose them, you know in your bones that they’re right for you.”
“I feel like I’m looking at the sun, blinding but so deliciously warm that you just close your eyes and bask in the glow, anyway.”
literally a couple lol.
July 8, 2024
4.5⭐️ I really couldn’t decide between 5 and 4 so I’m choosing the middle ground. ALSO, did I cry over a horse?! Yes I did, mind your business 🥲
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
July 26, 2021
Off to the Races is book one in the Gold Rush Ranch series by Elsie Silver. This is Elsie’s debut book and I am absolutely in love with it. The writing is beautiful, the setting gorgeous, and the characters stole my heart.
Billie Black is twenty eight years old and is a horse trainer. It’s a job she loves and has worked hard to be the best she can be. That’s why the possibility of this new position as head trainer at Gold Rush Ranch is so important. It’s just the career break she’s been waiting for. But not so much the pretty, pampered, arrogant man in the suit interviewing her for the job. He’s everything she promised herself she’d stay far, far away from. That’s why the electricity shooting up and down her arm when they shake hands is so unwelcome. That’s why she shouldn’t even look into those beautiful eyes of his and why she should definitely ignore the pull she feels toward him.
“Men like Vaughn are a trap I will never fall into.”
Vaughn Harding comes from money but he also has works hard for his family. But when he lost his grandfather, the man that pretty much raised him, he left his job at the family business in Vancouver and headed for Ruby Creek and his grandfather’s horse ranch, Gold Rush Ranch. His grandfather’s death was unexpected as was the huge black mark from a scandal his grandfather left behind on their family name. Now Vaughn wants to try to save the ranch and that means starting with fresh faces like a new horse trainer. Only he didn’t expect this ornery, argumentative, woman that kept him on the edge between wanting to kiss her and wanting to throttle her.
Vaughn and Billie circle each other, poke at each other, and fall for each other. Their truths eventually find their way into the open which brings them closer. And then there’s the horse, Double Diablo, the horse that won’t let anyone near him, that no one wants anything to do with. A horse that needed Billie just as much as she needed him.
What a beautiful book this is. I loved Vaughn and Billie and as I said before, the setting on the ranch was just gorgeous. I loved the way these two got to know each other. There is plenty of snark, plenty of glaring at each other, but also so many sparks, so much chemistry. Was their path an easy one, no it wasn’t. But what fun would that be to read about if it was. I enjoyed this so much and now I absolutely can’t wait for the next book, A Photo Finish, which will be Violet and Cole’s book. I absolutely can’t wait.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Billie Black is twenty eight years old and is a horse trainer. It’s a job she loves and has worked hard to be the best she can be. That’s why the possibility of this new position as head trainer at Gold Rush Ranch is so important. It’s just the career break she’s been waiting for. But not so much the pretty, pampered, arrogant man in the suit interviewing her for the job. He’s everything she promised herself she’d stay far, far away from. That’s why the electricity shooting up and down her arm when they shake hands is so unwelcome. That’s why she shouldn’t even look into those beautiful eyes of his and why she should definitely ignore the pull she feels toward him.
“Men like Vaughn are a trap I will never fall into.”
Vaughn Harding comes from money but he also has works hard for his family. But when he lost his grandfather, the man that pretty much raised him, he left his job at the family business in Vancouver and headed for Ruby Creek and his grandfather’s horse ranch, Gold Rush Ranch. His grandfather’s death was unexpected as was the huge black mark from a scandal his grandfather left behind on their family name. Now Vaughn wants to try to save the ranch and that means starting with fresh faces like a new horse trainer. Only he didn’t expect this ornery, argumentative, woman that kept him on the edge between wanting to kiss her and wanting to throttle her.
Vaughn and Billie circle each other, poke at each other, and fall for each other. Their truths eventually find their way into the open which brings them closer. And then there’s the horse, Double Diablo, the horse that won’t let anyone near him, that no one wants anything to do with. A horse that needed Billie just as much as she needed him.
What a beautiful book this is. I loved Vaughn and Billie and as I said before, the setting on the ranch was just gorgeous. I loved the way these two got to know each other. There is plenty of snark, plenty of glaring at each other, but also so many sparks, so much chemistry. Was their path an easy one, no it wasn’t. But what fun would that be to read about if it was. I enjoyed this so much and now I absolutely can’t wait for the next book, A Photo Finish, which will be Violet and Cole’s book. I absolutely can’t wait.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
April 15, 2024
a little too heavy on the horse girl vibes for my liking.
June 27, 2024
4.25 - so good!! i loved their dynamic so much. very snarky, wild child x grumpyish guy :)) so good, rtc!
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
so far elsie silver has not done me wrong 🙈 lets see if the streak continues!
─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
so far elsie silver has not done me wrong 🙈 lets see if the streak continues!
January 12, 2023
If you told me last year that I would cry [multiple times] in a western-ish type romance about a horse I literally would’ve laughed.
But here we are.
Billie is a horse trainer, and Vaughn is the grieving owner/operator of Gold Rush Ranch. She’s wild, fiery, and curses like a sailor. He’s reserved, grumpy, and sometimes an ass. The hate-to-love in the book was perfection. Vaughn was basically on his knees for her since their hysterical meet cute.
I WAS SO MAD AT THE CONFLICT but also really happy because it wasn’t miscommunication so that’s an automatic win for me.
If you haven’t read the Chestnut Springs series (Flawless/Heartless), this won’t make sense but, I feel like Billie walked so Willa could run. They felt similar but in a good way and I think that’s one of the reasons why I loved it so much.
I did feel like there were some cliches and the pacing was a little off. And after reading Flawless/Heartless this didn’t hit as hard for me. But as Elsie’s debut novel? She smashed it.
Read if you like
✨ westerns
✨ hate-to-love
✨ strong fmcs
✨ grumpy mmcs
✨ HORSES
But here we are.
Billie is a horse trainer, and Vaughn is the grieving owner/operator of Gold Rush Ranch. She’s wild, fiery, and curses like a sailor. He’s reserved, grumpy, and sometimes an ass. The hate-to-love in the book was perfection. Vaughn was basically on his knees for her since their hysterical meet cute.
I WAS SO MAD AT THE CONFLICT but also really happy because it wasn’t miscommunication so that’s an automatic win for me.
If you haven’t read the Chestnut Springs series (Flawless/Heartless), this won’t make sense but, I feel like Billie walked so Willa could run. They felt similar but in a good way and I think that’s one of the reasons why I loved it so much.
I did feel like there were some cliches and the pacing was a little off. And after reading Flawless/Heartless this didn’t hit as hard for me. But as Elsie’s debut novel? She smashed it.
Read if you like
✨ westerns
✨ hate-to-love
✨ strong fmcs
✨ grumpy mmcs
✨ HORSES
July 1, 2024
The only living being I loved in this book was DD (the horse). He was so adorable and the grumpiest horse ever. The only one in this book who had a huge character development and growth and that says a lot because he was just a horse.
Vaughn is a man-child who is obsessed with himself, thinks that every woman is dying to get in his bed, wears suits even though he works on a ranch, is a sex-god so ofcource he is allowed to throw man-trums every two seconds.
Billie is a wild girl, loves horses, loves DD (the cutest horse) even more, swears like a sailor, sometimes, okay most of times does cringe things and then go on and says, “cringe, cringe, cringe”, and that makes everything better for her.
The nicknames in this book were so weird. He calls her 'Mowgli' and she calls him 'Boss Man'. What are they? Five-year-olds?
The romance was fine. Not much exciting or anything because honestly I was more interested in horse than the couple. It was just plain ol' 'I hate her/him' trope with a pinch of 'she is the woman I want but can't have' drama. The slow-burn was executed well but the insta-lust made it seem tedious.
This was Elsie's debut book and I have seen her growth in Cheshnut Springs series so I only hope next books in this series are better. I am already so excited for Cole's book because who doesn't love a man who is as cold as ice 😋 I bet he's a total cinnamon roll on the inside.
—————
pre-read review: missed elsie and her cowboys 🤭 so here we go...
Vaughn is a man-child who is obsessed with himself, thinks that every woman is dying to get in his bed, wears suits even though he works on a ranch, is a sex-god so ofcource he is allowed to throw man-trums every two seconds.
Billie is a wild girl, loves horses, loves DD (the cutest horse) even more, swears like a sailor, sometimes, okay most of times does cringe things and then go on and says, “cringe, cringe, cringe”, and that makes everything better for her.
The nicknames in this book were so weird. He calls her 'Mowgli' and she calls him 'Boss Man'. What are they? Five-year-olds?
The romance was fine. Not much exciting or anything because honestly I was more interested in horse than the couple. It was just plain ol' 'I hate her/him' trope with a pinch of 'she is the woman I want but can't have' drama. The slow-burn was executed well but the insta-lust made it seem tedious.
This was Elsie's debut book and I have seen her growth in Cheshnut Springs series so I only hope next books in this series are better. I am already so excited for Cole's book because who doesn't love a man who is as cold as ice 😋 I bet he's a total cinnamon roll on the inside.
—————
pre-read review: missed elsie and her cowboys 🤭 so here we go...
March 5, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
July 22, 2024
4⭐️
What is it about Elsie Silver's books that just leave me an emotional wreck? 😭
I know that this is her debut book/series but it was SO GOOD!! When I tell you that I ate this book up with my entire soul...Elsie really has this magical way of writing her characters that just make them so lovable and relatable. I found myself drawn towards Billie from the very beginning, and my love for her only grew as I continued to read. I mean hell, I fell in love with a damn HORSE.
One thing that did irk me about Billie though was her demeanor. I felt at times in this book where she was just so incredibly childish and immature. It physically pained me at times and I just found myself yelling at my book. Other than that? She really grew on me; I swear Elsie knows how to write badass FMC's. They don't take shit from anybody and I love it.
Ya'll already know it's not an Elsie Silver book without her signature spice. 🤭 At first, I did find it a bit cringey and I felt that Vaughn and Billie's attraction went a bit overboard. It felt kinda heavy on the insta-lust. It could have probably been toned down a bit.
Overall, I am convinced that I will like and read pretty much everything this woman writes. It very much reminded me of Summer and Rhett from Flawless and I loved that book with my whole heart. As I stated before, you could definitely tell this was her debut book, but I still really really enjoyed it regardless. If you haven't read this book yet, I will highly encourage you too! 💙
Thank you again to Taylor for reading this with me!! I can't wait to read the rest of this series with you. Expect all my texts and videos of me sobbing and giggling over this book 🥹
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddy reading with Taylor bc I can't imagine reading this series with anyone else 💙 I just know we're going to eat this series up 🤭
What is it about Elsie Silver's books that just leave me an emotional wreck? 😭
I know that this is her debut book/series but it was SO GOOD!! When I tell you that I ate this book up with my entire soul...Elsie really has this magical way of writing her characters that just make them so lovable and relatable. I found myself drawn towards Billie from the very beginning, and my love for her only grew as I continued to read. I mean hell, I fell in love with a damn HORSE.
One thing that did irk me about Billie though was her demeanor. I felt at times in this book where she was just so incredibly childish and immature. It physically pained me at times and I just found myself yelling at my book. Other than that? She really grew on me; I swear Elsie knows how to write badass FMC's. They don't take shit from anybody and I love it.
Ya'll already know it's not an Elsie Silver book without her signature spice. 🤭 At first, I did find it a bit cringey and I felt that Vaughn and Billie's attraction went a bit overboard. It felt kinda heavy on the insta-lust. It could have probably been toned down a bit.
Overall, I am convinced that I will like and read pretty much everything this woman writes. It very much reminded me of Summer and Rhett from Flawless and I loved that book with my whole heart. As I stated before, you could definitely tell this was her debut book, but I still really really enjoyed it regardless. If you haven't read this book yet, I will highly encourage you too! 💙
Thank you again to Taylor for reading this with me!! I can't wait to read the rest of this series with you. Expect all my texts and videos of me sobbing and giggling over this book 🥹
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buddy reading with Taylor bc I can't imagine reading this series with anyone else 💙 I just know we're going to eat this series up 🤭
August 23, 2024
3,25/5 ⭐️
Relacja z koniem była lepiej napisana niż z głównym bohaterem XD
Wszystko było by fajnie gdyby dać się rozwinąć tej relacji, gdyby nie te przeskoki w czasie, bo między nimi się coś zaczyna a tam tydzień później, zaraz znowu przeskok i potem znowu. I to wszystko na samym początku, gdzie jeszcze nie zdążyłam się z nimi dobrze zapoznać.
Bo tak to jest całkiem ciekawie, ona ma charakterek co mi się podoba, on też i jest trudny w obyciu więc ich starcia są fajne 🔥 ale no dlaczego tak mało tego początku dostaliśmy??? Przez te przeskoki miałam wrażenie że znikąd się to wzięło..
Dlatego relacja z koniem DDim była dla mnie ciekawsza niż ich XD lepszą chemię z koniem miała
Ale klimat? ZŁOTO! Bo kocham kowbojskie romanse!! Ranczo, małe miasteczko, KOCHAM!
I jestem cholernie ciekawa kolejnego tomu o tym bracie i przyjaciółce z tego tomu (zorientowaliście się że to jest siostra Rhetta z „Bez Skazy”, czyli kolejnej serii od Elsie Silver?)
Relacja z koniem była lepiej napisana niż z głównym bohaterem XD
Wszystko było by fajnie gdyby dać się rozwinąć tej relacji, gdyby nie te przeskoki w czasie, bo między nimi się coś zaczyna a tam tydzień później, zaraz znowu przeskok i potem znowu. I to wszystko na samym początku, gdzie jeszcze nie zdążyłam się z nimi dobrze zapoznać.
Bo tak to jest całkiem ciekawie, ona ma charakterek co mi się podoba, on też i jest trudny w obyciu więc ich starcia są fajne 🔥 ale no dlaczego tak mało tego początku dostaliśmy??? Przez te przeskoki miałam wrażenie że znikąd się to wzięło..
Dlatego relacja z koniem DDim była dla mnie ciekawsza niż ich XD lepszą chemię z koniem miała
Ale klimat? ZŁOTO! Bo kocham kowbojskie romanse!! Ranczo, małe miasteczko, KOCHAM!
I jestem cholernie ciekawa kolejnego tomu o tym bracie i przyjaciółce z tego tomu (zorientowaliście się że to jest siostra Rhetta z „Bez Skazy”, czyli kolejnej serii od Elsie Silver?)
March 9, 2024
For everyone who loved The Chestnut Springs series, then you'll love this one just as much. The Chestnut Springs series is one that lives rent-free in my head. I know this series came first, but it is fun reading it after Chestnut Springs. Elsie Silver's character building is top-notch. This is just a beautiful story and series.
July 18, 2024
PRE READ
missing my cowboy era !!🤠
PRE REVIEW
ugh I loved Billie so much!!!! Billie and Willa would absolutely be best mates
missing my cowboy era !!🤠
PRE REVIEW
ugh I loved Billie so much!!!! Billie and Willa would absolutely be best mates
February 3, 2022
This was such a charming and heartwarming read. I really liked both main characters, their chemistry, the tension between them. Billie was exactly the type of a badass heroine I like, not too rude or arrogant, just a perfectly sassy tomboy. I loved the bond between her and DD (a horse on the ranch), it is a long time I've read a book with a horse in the main role and even though I know nothing about horse racing I really enjoyed this one.
August 18, 2023
4 stars
Off to the Races is the first book in Elsie Silver’s ‘Gold Rush Ranch’ series and I’ve read all the others, so I was happy to finally get to this one. I loved Billie and Vaughn from the other books, so it was nice to finally get their story. I loved Billie’s relationship with her horse, Vaughn’s grand gesture, and seeing so many of the characters I love from the previous books. This is Elsie’s debut novel and I enjoyed it so much!
Off to the Races is the first book in Elsie Silver’s ‘Gold Rush Ranch’ series and I’ve read all the others, so I was happy to finally get to this one. I loved Billie and Vaughn from the other books, so it was nice to finally get their story. I loved Billie’s relationship with her horse, Vaughn’s grand gesture, and seeing so many of the characters I love from the previous books. This is Elsie’s debut novel and I enjoyed it so much!
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: CJ Bloom & Tim Paige
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8h 52m
May 7, 2024
4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
If this was the first book I wrote and published I would be damn proud of myself!! This was such a fun time and I feel like this series is very underrated! It was so Elsie and I’m so excited to be reading her Gold Rush ranch series while I wait for her next release. I won’t be critiquing this much, I loved this story and couldn’t believe it was her first ever book. Her writing has obviously developed since this book, but this was still binge worthy and a joy to read! Audio narration was also wonderful!
What to expect:
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Small town romance
✨ Western/ Racehorse farm
✨ Dual POV
✨ Feisty + Strong FMC
✨ Grumpy MMC
2/5🌶️
If this was the first book I wrote and published I would be damn proud of myself!! This was such a fun time and I feel like this series is very underrated! It was so Elsie and I’m so excited to be reading her Gold Rush ranch series while I wait for her next release. I won’t be critiquing this much, I loved this story and couldn’t believe it was her first ever book. Her writing has obviously developed since this book, but this was still binge worthy and a joy to read! Audio narration was also wonderful!
What to expect:
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Small town romance
✨ Western/ Racehorse farm
✨ Dual POV
✨ Feisty + Strong FMC
✨ Grumpy MMC
August 12, 2022
WOAH WOAH WOAH. this book was way better than I anticipated?????? Enemies to lovers and actually written so well??? not cringy or too much either like damn ok Mrs silver.
Billie girl had all the spunk and fierceness we love to see in a female MC. SHE LITERALLY WHIPPED A MAN with a horse whip FOR WRONGING HER GO OFF GIRL.
I think this book also had a really good message about how as humans we aren’t black and white. And also a reminder that someone you may look up to is not perfect and that’s okay
Billie girl had all the spunk and fierceness we love to see in a female MC. SHE LITERALLY WHIPPED A MAN with a horse whip FOR WRONGING HER GO OFF GIRL.
I think this book also had a really good message about how as humans we aren’t black and white. And also a reminder that someone you may look up to is not perfect and that’s okay
July 14, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. While the story was okay, something about this book didn't work for me but I can't point exactly what that was. I think that the writing is what threw me off at first and then I felt that something was missing from the story. I just didn't feel the connection between the MCs.
Overall, I didn't like this book, at least not as much as I hoped I would. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the books in the series. 2 ⭐
August 3, 2023
this is a really good way to start a series, the storyline and chemistry is PHENOMENAL like i genuinely enjoyed reading this book
May 22, 2023
3,5/5⭐️
This was a cute small town romance taking place on a ranch with horses!! Ugh I love!! It was adorable, the vibes were amazing, friendships were thriving and I loved the involvement of the horses and horse races! It was something different that I wasn’t used to but Elsie Silver just knows how to write “Country” romances!
I have to admit that this definitely is not my favourite book by hers. It was at times a bit cringy and hard to get through and also a bit boring at times and I didn’t really like how detailed the description of some things were. It just felt kinda unnecessary and boring to me. I also couldn’t really connect with the main couple and found myself more interested in the drama, friendships and horses. The relationship just kinda fell flat to me…
It was labeled as an “enemies to lovers” book but it was solely just Vaughn being a man-child and Billie having to deal with his annoying ass. There was tension but imo it wasn’t that well written. Like it didn’t really make me want to root for them or had me grinning or giggling which I was kind of disappointed by because ‘Flawless’ was the complete opposite of that but this book is Elsie Silver’s debut novel and I believe that the rest of the series will only get better from here on out and I’m more than excited to get to it!!
Obviously, there were many things that I did still enjoy in this book!
For instance, I absolutely loved Billie!! She’s such a fun character and I just LOVE how she doesn’t shy down on expressing her thoughts and opinions! She’s really strong minded and independent and I love that about her!! She’s also so witty and I just love her comebacks when her and Vaughn banter! It was just so entertaining and she pretty much carried the whole book on her back!! I can also relate to her a lot which made me enjoy reading about her even more!! She’s an amazing FMC!!
I also love love loveeee DD or more like Mr. Black now! I loved his bond with Billie and seeing how much he means to her was so endearing and I just love how she fought for and with him! It warmed my heart and it made the book just so so much better! DD is the real MMC here!!
Hank, Violet and the other side characters were also so nicely included into the story and plot and I loved all of them! Especially Hank! He’s such a sweetheart and I love how he turned into pretty much a father figure for both Billie and Vaughn! He’s the best and I hope he keeps on appearing in the following novels!
While the romance didn’t really catch my eye throughout 70% of the book, the last 30% pretty much made up for that. At the beginning the chemistry and tension was quite lacking but towards the end, they very much improved themselves and I loved to see that! It got way more intriguing and intense at the end which I enjoyed reading about!!
Overall, I can’t wait to continue this series because I know it’ll only get better and I’m all here for it!! And the fact that the next book is about Violet and Cole makes me even more excited!!
This was a cute small town romance taking place on a ranch with horses!! Ugh I love!! It was adorable, the vibes were amazing, friendships were thriving and I loved the involvement of the horses and horse races! It was something different that I wasn’t used to but Elsie Silver just knows how to write “Country” romances!
I have to admit that this definitely is not my favourite book by hers. It was at times a bit cringy and hard to get through and also a bit boring at times and I didn’t really like how detailed the description of some things were. It just felt kinda unnecessary and boring to me. I also couldn’t really connect with the main couple and found myself more interested in the drama, friendships and horses. The relationship just kinda fell flat to me…
It was labeled as an “enemies to lovers” book but it was solely just Vaughn being a man-child and Billie having to deal with his annoying ass. There was tension but imo it wasn’t that well written. Like it didn’t really make me want to root for them or had me grinning or giggling which I was kind of disappointed by because ‘Flawless’ was the complete opposite of that but this book is Elsie Silver’s debut novel and I believe that the rest of the series will only get better from here on out and I’m more than excited to get to it!!
Obviously, there were many things that I did still enjoy in this book!
For instance, I absolutely loved Billie!! She’s such a fun character and I just LOVE how she doesn’t shy down on expressing her thoughts and opinions! She’s really strong minded and independent and I love that about her!! She’s also so witty and I just love her comebacks when her and Vaughn banter! It was just so entertaining and she pretty much carried the whole book on her back!! I can also relate to her a lot which made me enjoy reading about her even more!! She’s an amazing FMC!!
I also love love loveeee DD or more like Mr. Black now! I loved his bond with Billie and seeing how much he means to her was so endearing and I just love how she fought for and with him! It warmed my heart and it made the book just so so much better! DD is the real MMC here!!
Hank, Violet and the other side characters were also so nicely included into the story and plot and I loved all of them! Especially Hank! He’s such a sweetheart and I love how he turned into pretty much a father figure for both Billie and Vaughn! He’s the best and I hope he keeps on appearing in the following novels!
While the romance didn’t really catch my eye throughout 70% of the book, the last 30% pretty much made up for that. At the beginning the chemistry and tension was quite lacking but towards the end, they very much improved themselves and I loved to see that! It got way more intriguing and intense at the end which I enjoyed reading about!!
Overall, I can’t wait to continue this series because I know it’ll only get better and I’m all here for it!! And the fact that the next book is about Violet and Cole makes me even more excited!!
January 25, 2023
2✨
I am not a horse girl. Actually, my family owns a horse ranch and I hate horses. This is a book for a horse girl.
There is more horse in this book than there is romance. The entire plotline is about a horse. It was terrible to read. And how obsessed she was with the horse??? Man, are horse girls really like that.
Unless you are a horse girl or my great grandma who lives on my family’s horse ranch, I don’t recommend you read this.
I am not a horse girl. Actually, my family owns a horse ranch and I hate horses. This is a book for a horse girl.
There is more horse in this book than there is romance. The entire plotline is about a horse. It was terrible to read. And how obsessed she was with the horse??? Man, are horse girls really like that.
Unless you are a horse girl or my great grandma who lives on my family’s horse ranch, I don’t recommend you read this.
August 3, 2023
So I finally started the Gold Rush Ranch series and Elsie Silver's writing is so addictive.
I just loved this book. LOVED. To think this is a debut novel from the author!
Billie is my favourite type of FMC to read. Hilarious, stubborn and a complete firecracker. I found myself laughing throughout because of her one-liners. Whilst Vaughn is not my favourite Elsie Silver man, he's definitely an enjoyable read. His brother Cole stole the spotlight for me but I'm a sucker for secretive, grumpy men with dark secrets.
I also cried way too much at Billie and DD's connection, who knew I'd be sobbing over a fictional horse winning a race.
Tropes included:
- Small town
- Workplace romance (ranch owner/horse trainer)
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Third act break-up
I just loved this book. LOVED. To think this is a debut novel from the author!
Billie is my favourite type of FMC to read. Hilarious, stubborn and a complete firecracker. I found myself laughing throughout because of her one-liners. Whilst Vaughn is not my favourite Elsie Silver man, he's definitely an enjoyable read. His brother Cole stole the spotlight for me but I'm a sucker for secretive, grumpy men with dark secrets.
I also cried way too much at Billie and DD's connection, who knew I'd be sobbing over a fictional horse winning a race.
Tropes included:
- Small town
- Workplace romance (ranch owner/horse trainer)
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Third act break-up
February 26, 2023
the horse was the best🐎
August 21, 2024
How is this an Elsie Silver book? This didn't read or feel like her writing at all. I know this was her debut novel and compared to her Chestnut Springs series, it showed. And I mean that in the nicest way possible but this was rough for me. To be honest had I read this book first before her recent offerings, I would never go near another book by her. That's how much this book turned me off. There was zero charm, zero charisma, zero humor, zero fun witty banter and absolutely zero chemistry between the leads. There's more "telling" than actual dialogue. Barely any plot. There was nothing likable about the hero Vaughn or heroine Billie who is as charming as a prickly cactus. Even the secondary characters weren't very likable or memorable (minus Violet). Violet Eaton and her hero Cole is the reason I wanted to go back and try this series since all her brothers got books in Chestnut Springs who I loved. Now I wish I followed my gut and just read Book 2. Cole was completely unlikable in this which was another disappointment. I didn't even like Mira the vet. Like I said, this didn't feel at all like a ES book. The only interesting character in this was the supposed villain Stefan Dalca.
The hero Vaughn Harding was so uninspiring and a complete pushover and doormat to the loud mouth, rude, mean, patronizing AF, unreasonable heroine Billie Black. Yes they got off on the wrong foot first meeting but the real asshole of this book is the heroine, Billie. Vaughn had his one petulant asshole moment in the beginning of the book but Billie takes the cake for being insufferable. The way this woman would constantly talk down to and belittle the hero just screamed toxic. I'm predicting a divorce in the future cause there's no way you can convince me these two are forever kind of love. She calls him stupid, bitch baby, spoiled brat, dumbass, prick, Mama's boy, idiot. Like....? And not in an affectionate way either. It was so unattractive and made me uncomfortable because it was so unwarranted. There's giving as good as you get and there's....this. It's not even light-hearted fun bantering which ES couples are usually known for. This was just fucking mean for no reason. The condescending way she would talk down to him was just awful. I didn't even like or care for the hero but I was like dude you can do better than this. I mean he's telling her about his childhood after losing his parents and his grandfather raising him alone and she sarcastically quips if he wants a sippy cup. 😐 The snark was on overdrive and endless. What am I supposed to do with this kind of dynamic? And all the digs about him being a trust fund baby was insane because she was one too. Pot meet kettle, sweetie. You literally grew up in that same world, so pipe down Judgemental Judy. There was nothing badass or endearing about how this woman acted. Everyone calls her "psychotic" and that's not a compliment y'all. 😩
And the obsession over that horse. Good lord. I have never seen an adult act so unhinged, territorial, possessive, self-destructive and childish over a horse the way this woman did. She showed more passion and emotion over DD the horse than she did the hero Vaughn. I'm a huuuuuge animal lover and usually love when an animal plays a part in a story, cowboys and girl horses etc. you name it, but Elsie Silver this was so not it. The most exciting thing that happens here is waiting for a horse to poop and no I'm not even kidding. More page time was spent on Billie talking and crying on the horse than spending time with Vaughn. And the 3rd act conflict centering around the horse was so ridiculous. Very predictable but ridiculous. The hero, who is your boss, selling a horse that doesn't even belong to you is a "betrayal"? Girl please. It was a bad business move for sure but asking a man to turn down $20 million that his ranch needs just for you and for a horse that isn't even yours is psycho behavior. It just felt overblown for what it was and so unreasonable. The number of times I wanted to scream BUT HE'S NOT YOUR HORSE was countless. lol She's this attached to a horse she's training for 2 months and I'm supposed to believe she does this for a living? Her constant belligerent attitude and bulldozing over everyone made it hard to swallow that her professional career as a horse trainer was on the line. What kind of professional anything acts like this?
Whenever she doesn't get her way Vaughn is a "prick" and an "asshole" but when she does get her way he's "wonderful". She rails at him for letting his loyalty to his late grandfather Dermot who raised him cloud his judgment in a business deal and refers to his grandfather as a "dead man who fucked everyone over" and to just "get over it" but when she gets what she wants in the end (the hero gifting her the horse).... Dermot magically becomes "a good man she wishes she met". 😐 Uh huh. See the pattern here? So unbelievably manipulative that I can't believe Silver wrote this heroine. I give this couple 2 years tops. This was so weak all around and not sexy even a little bit. I even skimmed the sex scenes, I never do that. When there's no chemistry there's no point. For an Elsie Silver book it's unheard of.
The hero Vaughn Harding was so uninspiring and a complete pushover and doormat to the loud mouth, rude, mean, patronizing AF, unreasonable heroine Billie Black. Yes they got off on the wrong foot first meeting but the real asshole of this book is the heroine, Billie. Vaughn had his one petulant asshole moment in the beginning of the book but Billie takes the cake for being insufferable. The way this woman would constantly talk down to and belittle the hero just screamed toxic. I'm predicting a divorce in the future cause there's no way you can convince me these two are forever kind of love. She calls him stupid, bitch baby, spoiled brat, dumbass, prick, Mama's boy, idiot. Like....? And not in an affectionate way either. It was so unattractive and made me uncomfortable because it was so unwarranted. There's giving as good as you get and there's....this. It's not even light-hearted fun bantering which ES couples are usually known for. This was just fucking mean for no reason. The condescending way she would talk down to him was just awful. I didn't even like or care for the hero but I was like dude you can do better than this. I mean he's telling her about his childhood after losing his parents and his grandfather raising him alone and she sarcastically quips if he wants a sippy cup. 😐 The snark was on overdrive and endless. What am I supposed to do with this kind of dynamic? And all the digs about him being a trust fund baby was insane because she was one too. Pot meet kettle, sweetie. You literally grew up in that same world, so pipe down Judgemental Judy. There was nothing badass or endearing about how this woman acted. Everyone calls her "psychotic" and that's not a compliment y'all. 😩
And the obsession over that horse. Good lord. I have never seen an adult act so unhinged, territorial, possessive, self-destructive and childish over a horse the way this woman did. She showed more passion and emotion over DD the horse than she did the hero Vaughn. I'm a huuuuuge animal lover and usually love when an animal plays a part in a story, cowboys and girl horses etc. you name it, but Elsie Silver this was so not it. The most exciting thing that happens here is waiting for a horse to poop and no I'm not even kidding. More page time was spent on Billie talking and crying on the horse than spending time with Vaughn. And the 3rd act conflict centering around the horse was so ridiculous. Very predictable but ridiculous. The hero, who is your boss, selling a horse that doesn't even belong to you is a "betrayal"? Girl please. It was a bad business move for sure but asking a man to turn down $20 million that his ranch needs just for you and for a horse that isn't even yours is psycho behavior. It just felt overblown for what it was and so unreasonable. The number of times I wanted to scream BUT HE'S NOT YOUR HORSE was countless. lol She's this attached to a horse she's training for 2 months and I'm supposed to believe she does this for a living? Her constant belligerent attitude and bulldozing over everyone made it hard to swallow that her professional career as a horse trainer was on the line. What kind of professional anything acts like this?
“You’re incorrigible.”
I shake my head in disapproval. “Okay, you can drop the private school vocabulary now. No one is here to impress. Your name alone is already a big enough testament to how expensive you are.”
“Vaughn, I am so not in the mood for your trust fund baby temper tantrums right now.”
“Man. You’re like the clap. I can’t fucking get rid of you,” is her muffled response.
“Good lord, don’t be such a bitch baby.”
I can’t help it. I bark out a harsh laugh against my will and turn back to take her in. “Billie Black, did you just call your employer a bitch baby?” I say, giving her an incredulous look.
“Yeah, yeah.” She grins as she walks towards the small pen beside the house. “Turn your fine trust fund ass around and come have a beer with me.”
“Don’t you dare interrupt me. I have some choice words to share with you as well, but I can only handle one spoiled asshole at a time, so you just wait your fucking turn.” He presses his lips together. Vaughn’s no pushover, but he’s also smart enough to know which battles are worth picking—and apparently this ain’t it. Smart boy.
If he loved me, he wouldn’t be selling DD off to clear a dead man’s tarnished reputation at my expense.
Whenever she doesn't get her way Vaughn is a "prick" and an "asshole" but when she does get her way he's "wonderful". She rails at him for letting his loyalty to his late grandfather Dermot who raised him cloud his judgment in a business deal and refers to his grandfather as a "dead man who fucked everyone over" and to just "get over it" but when she gets what she wants in the end (the hero gifting her the horse).... Dermot magically becomes "a good man she wishes she met". 😐 Uh huh. See the pattern here? So unbelievably manipulative that I can't believe Silver wrote this heroine. I give this couple 2 years tops. This was so weak all around and not sexy even a little bit. I even skimmed the sex scenes, I never do that. When there's no chemistry there's no point. For an Elsie Silver book it's unheard of.
January 9, 2024
how come between these books and chestnut springs there’s only 1 year difference? These look written by 2 different authors 😵
April 5, 2024
oh this book now has a special place in my heart 😭🤍 such a good story, romance and tension was 🤌🏽 Billie is such a bad ass. This was just all so sweet and heartwarming
March 21, 2024
I fear I’ve entered my cowboy romance book era & I don’t anticipate leaving anytime soon🤠
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