A Photo Finish

A Photo Finish (2021) is the second installment in the Gold Rush Ranch series by Canadian author Elsie Silver. Silver’s writing is known for its complex characters and idyllic scenery based in western Canada. A Photo Finish follows protagonists Violet Eaton and Cole Harding, who first appeared in Off to the Races (2021), the first novel in the series. A Photo Finish explores themes related to the emotional value of animals, working through grief, and realistic expectations for mental health progress.

This guide is based on the 2021 Kindle/ADP e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, ableism, mental illness, sexual content, cursing, and death of parents.

Plot Summary

A Photo Finish picks up where Off to the Races left off, after Violet Eaton wins the Denman Derby on racehorse Double Diablo (DD). Violet is surprised when Cole Harding, the older brother of Gold Rush Ranch owner Vaughn Harding, approaches and reveals that he recognizes her as “Pretty in Purple,” the screen name she used during their previous online romance.

A year later, Cole moves to Gold Rush Ranch for a professional opportunity, which he dreads. He hasn’t spoken to Violet since the day after the Denman Derby. The narrative diverges into two timelines, one that features Violet and Cole’s online relationship two years earlier and one that tracks their reunion in the narrative present.

In the flashback narrative, Violet posts a topless photograph of herself online, seeking more adventure in her life. Cole responds, offering a one-sided sexual relationship, as he’s unwilling to reveal himself in photographs or video. Violet refuses, and the two strike up a friendship, despite Cole’s initial reluctance to engage with her.

In the narrative present, Violet tries to avoid Cole. At the first major race of the season, jockey Patrick Cassel makes sexist comments toward Violet. Cassel has a bad relationship with Violet’s friend Billie Black (a horse trainer) because, in Off to the Races (the first novel in the series), Cassel drove his horse into DD. Violet brushes Cassel off, so he retaliates by knocking into DD, and Violet’s leg breaks when DD falls. Because Violet’s apartment is up a steep flight of stairs, Billie arranges for Violet to stay at the ranch’s farmhouse, even though Cole is already staying there. Violet’s injury makes Cole anxious because it reminds him of the horse-riding accident that killed his father, but he agrees to let her stay at the farmhouse. The two gradually begin to discuss their shared past, though they avoid emotionally intimate details. They fight their attraction to one another.

Violet eventually explains her past with Cole to Billie. Vaughn, Billie’s fiancé, overhears their conversation. Cole feels anxious about his brother and future sister-in-law knowing his romantic history, but his therapist, Trixie, thinks emotional honesty is good for him. Billie instructs Violet to train a horse, Pipsqueak; Cole is uncomfortable with the horse’s proximity, though he grows increasingly fond of Pipsqueak.

In the flashback timeline, Cole and Violet become close after months of daily conversation. They make flirtatious references to Cole’s initial sexual offer. Cole enjoys his emotional connection with Violet, though he worries that she’ll withdraw from their friendship if he doesn’t become more emotionally available.

In the narrative present, Cole and Violet continue spending time together. One night, they go to a pub, where Violet admits her deeply held professional desires as a jockey. Cole builds a shelter for Pipsqueak, indicating his increasing affection for the horse. Cole contends that he did this for Violet’s sake, not Pipsqueak’s. At a race, Violet meets Hilary, Cole’s ex-fiancée; she implies a romantic relationship between herself and Cole to make Hilary leave Cole alone. Later, Violet encounters Cassel, who sexually harasses her. Cole threatens him.

Cole spends time with Pipsqueak to relax following the incident with Cassel, finding the horse’s presence therapeutic. When Cole has a nightmare about friends dying in the military, Violet comforts him. He offers to help her train physically without using her leg so that she’ll be ready to return to riding after her broken leg heals. She finally gets her cast off and rides Pipsqueak, which frightens Cole.

In the flashback timeline, Cole and Violet have phone sex. She asks him to show her his face, but he harshly rejects her. She deletes the app, hurt and embarrassed, but Cole, unbeknownst to Violet, keeps sending her daily messages.

In the narrative present, Violet moves out of the farmhouse and back to her apartment without saying anything, which hurts Cole’s feelings. He confesses that he felt worried about her. They go on a hike together, and Cole collapses. He reveals that he lost his leg following an incident in the military; he now wears a prosthesis, which broke. Because there isn’t time for Violet to return to the farmhouse and come back before dark, they camp out. Cole feels relieved that she doesn’t pity him for his injury, as his ex-fiancée did. He also feels relieved that he finally told someone the truth, since he has been hiding his injury for years. He and Violet kiss and hold one another.

The next day, Violet hikes and retrieves Cole’s spare prosthesis. She sees the app they once used to correspond open on his computer and realizes that he has been sending her messages, which she finds frustrating, since she would have preferred that he just speak with her. She’s uncertain about their relationship, particularly when Cole refers to them as friends. She admits to reading his messages, which leads them to admit their struggles with vulnerability. They have sex and spend another night together.

Cole tells Trixie that he finds sex with Violet “overwhelming.” In addition, he worries about being in a relationship with a jockey. Stefan Dalca, the antagonist from Off to the Races, seeks Violet out to apologize for Cassel’s harassment; he has fired Cassel from his employ. Cole and Violet settle into their sexual relationship, which both enjoy. He’s pleased when Violet reveals their relationship to Billie because it makes him feel that he’s important to her and worthy of being her partner publicly. When he sees Violet take a fall off Pipsqueak, however, he panics, even though she isn’t badly hurt. He breaks up with her, unable to handle dating someone who works as a jockey. Violet is upset; she gives him a deadline to decide if he wants to try to work on his fear alongside her. She declares that she doesn’t need him “better,” merely willing to try.

Cole tells Billie about his amputation and is shocked when she reveals that she already knew. Billie offers to help Cole prove himself to Violet. Cole tells Vaughn the truth. At the end of Violet’s two-week deadline, she races Pipsqueak for the first time and wins easily. Cole arrives, riding the “pony horse” that helps keep racehorses calm. Violet is touched that Cole has learned to ride again, despite his fear. He declares his love for her, and she returns the sentiment. A year later, in the Epilogue, Cole and Violet have a daughter, Lilah. They’re married, and Violet is returning to horse racing.