After finishing the Chestnut Springs series, I knew I had to dive into the Gold Rush Ranch series to tide me over until Wild Eyes releases in September. Here’s my ranking of the books from most to least favorite along with my reviews of each:

Off to the Races (Book 1)

📖: Off to the Races is the first book in the series, where we meet Billie Black, a horse trainer, and Vaughn Harding, a newly inherited ranch owner. Determined to clear his late grandfather’s name from a scandal associated with the ranch, Vaughn hires Billie based on a trusted recommendation. Billie is tasked with training a horse deemed untrainable, as they both navigate the high stakes and intense emotions of their glamorous yet dangerous environment.

I’ve noticed that Elsie Silver’s first books in a series often contain some sort of enemies-to-lovers dynamic, as well as a bit of an “office” romance theme. In Off to the Races, I loved Billie’s character and really empathized with her. Her relationship with the horse, Double Diablo, was sweet, supportive, and protective. As for Vaughn, I had mixed feelings about him. Initially, he comes off as a spoiled, rich man-child, but I appreciate seeing his character develop and his vulnerabilities exposed. He also owns up to his mistakes. The way their relationship becomes more intimate is both sweet and steamy in all the right parts. I noticed that we are introduced to other characters who will feature in upcoming books of the series, which I’m looking forward to reading. Now, I can’t wait to read A Photo Finish featuring Violet (the youngest Eaton) and Cole!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Rank: 2nd

Out of the Gate (Book 1.5)

📖: Out of the Gate is a the 1.5 novella in the Gold Rush Ranch series. Ava Wilson has long harbored feelings for Dermot Harding, a family friend and employee at her father’s ranch, despite their significant age difference and his past rejections. When Dermot returns from the army, the two reconnect while training a racehorse together, reigniting their intense chemistry and making them reconsider the obstacles that once kept them apart.

💭: This was the first Elsie Silver book that I didn’t enjoy, despite loving Vaughn and Billie’s story. I had anticipated learning more about how Vaughn’s grandparents, Dermont and Ava, met. However, the overall story didn’t resonate with me. Age-gap romances can be hit or miss and unfortunately, this one missed the mark. The fact that Ava had a crush on Dermont since she was 10 and he was 20 gave me the ick factor. It was frustrating that Dermont continually emphasized his age as an obstacle as to why he couldn’t be with Ava. While Ava’s character was well-developed, Dermont’s lacked depth even though he had his own perspective written in the story. Although this book wasn’t for me, I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Series Rank: 5th

A Photo Finish (Book 2)

📖: A Photo Finish is the second book in the Gold Rush Ranch series. Violet Eaton and Cole Harding’s anonymous online relationship is revealed when Cole moves back to his family’s ranch where Violet currently resides. After Violet has a horse accident, Cole and Violet are forced to love together. Living together, their connection grows, challenging Cole’s guarded nature and hidden scars as they navigate their intense attraction.

💭: This has been my most anticipated read in the series because I initially got glimpses of Violet and Cole in the Chestnut Springs series. However, I realized I loved Off to the Races much more than A Photo Finish. A Photo Finish had similar tropes to Hopeless, so I knew this wouldn’t be my favorite. For some reason, I enjoyed Hopeless much more than this one. Their unusual meeting made for an interesting plot, but I found their past text message conversations lacked depth. As for the present day, I enjoyed the forced proximity. The pace was a bit slower than the others, which I didn’t mind, and I loved Elsie’s writing as always. The little twists along the way and the eventual coming together did make the story enjoyable. I absolutely loved that Billie was a wonderful supporting character who helped move the story along. There were also glimpses of Mira and Stefan which I loved. Overall, this was a 3.5-star read, but I rounded it to 4 stars on Goodreads. I can’t wait to read The Front Runner!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Rank: 3rd

The Front Runner (Book 3)

📖: The Front Runner is the third book in the Gold Rush Ranch series. Veterinarian Mira Thorne reluctantly teams up with Stefan Dalca, the town’s brooding pariah, to save a sick foal, leading to an unexpected romance. As Mira delves deeper into Stefan’s mysterious past, she finds herself increasingly drawn to him, only to face shocking truths that put her heart and reputation on the line.

💭: When I found out that Stefan (Billie’s enemy) and Mira were having their story, I was ecstatic! After learning that Stefan is Elsie’s favorite Gold Rush man and that Mira is half Indian and half white, these were delightful surprises. Zachary Webber and Soneela Nankani performing the audiobook were also a cherry on top!

This was a 5-star read! I think it’s safe to say this is my favorite book in the series so far. I really loved the character depth and growth of Mira and Stefan, both individually and together. The slow burn of their romance was sweet and sexy, unfolding beautifully. There were also a few unexpected twists that were pleasant surprises. Zachary and Soneela did an incredible job narrating this book, really bringing the story to life! Zachary’s slight Romanian accent was particularly swoonworthy. Out of all of Elsie’s books, Stefan is definitely one of the most complex and morally grey characters I’ve read. I could tell he was trying his hardest to do the best he could with the terrible hand he was dealt in life. As for Mira, I could understand why she was closed off and came across as cold-hearted due to the pressures she faced. It was fantastic to see Billie as an active supporting character and that we got to know Stefan’s little sister, Nadia, better. Now, I feel bittersweet that I only have one book left in the Gold Rush Ranch series: Nadia and Griffin’s love story!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Rank: 1st

A False Start (Book 4)

📖: A False Start is the final book in Elsie Silver’s Gold Rush Ranch series. Nadia and Griffin share an unexpected kiss at a bar when Nadia is 19. Two years later, Griffin still can’t resist his attraction to Nadia, even though she’s his best friend’s younger sister and off-limits. As their bond grows stronger, Griffin struggles with his feelings, caught between his desire for her and the fear of betraying his only remaining friend.

💭: It’s so bittersweet that I finally caught up with Elsie Silver’s backlist. I knew going in that I wouldn’t like A False Start because I’m not a fan of age gap and instalove tropes like Hopeless. In The Photo Finish, I wasn’t a fan of teenage Nadia so I didn’t have high hopes of liking her being older. The only part of this book I liked was that Mira and Stefan are supporting characters and I love seeing their love story progress. Nadia’s personality came off as immature and reckless. Griffin is such a boring MMC. I couldn’t find any redeemable quality about him. Nadia and Griffin’s relationship seems physical and couldn’t see this being a long-term relationship. Overall, I would say I liked the Chestnut Spring series better than the Gold Rush Ranch series. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Series Rank: 4th