Off To The Races by Elsie Silver Review

 Hey ForeverBookers, 

How are you all today? I hope you’re well!

I’ve just finished “Off to the Races” by Elsie Silver and I loved it! “Off to the Races” is the first book in the “Gold Rush Ranch” series by Elsie Silver. It’s her first cowboy romance series. She’s since had 2 other series set in a cowboy/ranch setting and is releasing another one at the moment. The first book in that one is released at the moment. I want to read them in order, although I have read both “Flawless” and “Heartless” already but that was before I knew her backlog! Now I’m starting at the beginning. 

“Off to the Races” tells the story of Vaughn and Billie. Vaughn is a tough, no nonsense business man at the beginning of the story. He has to hire a new horse handler for his ranch. Billie is the person he hires. At first he’s unaware she’s a girl. Can they work together to train a certain, black horse called Double Diablo, or DD as Billie lovingly calls him. Or are they at odds from the start? I’ll let you read for yourself. “Off to the Races” is told in first person POV from both of our leads, Vaughn and Billie. 

Readathons!

“Off to the Races” has sexual content, although if you’ve read any other Elsie Silver books you’ll know that she writes erotic romance with a plot so it’s not just banging. There were around three sex scenes, I think in “Off to the Races.” 

Spoilers Below…

“Confidence and dedication are two things I probably respect the most in another person. I’ve worked my ass off too. I won’t be the one who has to work with her every day, so if she’s good at her job, what does it matter if she’s also irritating.

“You’re young,” I say. 

“I have energy,” she counters.

“You’re inexperienced.”

“And I’m hungry to prove myself.” She grins.

Is she intentionally filling her answers with innuendo? This woman is certifiable.” 27

Right at the start of “Off to the Races,” we see Vaughn put through his paces by Billie at her interview. It should be the other way around but she has obvious confidence as Vaughn notes. I liked this about Billie, that she wasn’t at all scared or wary of Vaughn. They just fell into a working relationship easily. This progressed by the mid point of the novel to more than friends. She isn’t scared of anything apart from Double Diablo or DD getting hurt, as is also seen later in the story. This also brings our lead characters closer together. 

“Vaughn,” she whispers, running both her hands through my soaked hair, “what are you doing?”

“Shutting you up,” I murmur against her skin as I drag my teeth and feather soft kisses up her throat before giving her ear a good hard nip.

“Mmm,” is the muffled sound she makes in response. “You’re going to regret this tomorrow.” 

I stop at that, bringing her pointer finger to the dip just below her bottom lip. I press it there to tip her head back, and her exotic eyes flutter open to meet mine.

“No, I won’t,” I respond, dragging my finger up toward the seam of her puffy lips.

Eyes glued to mine, she parts her lips and then sucks my finger, hot tongue swirling around it.” - 135

Billie is shown to be who she truly is just before the scene above. She’s the daughter of former prime minister, Victor Farrington, who slept around. This happens just after DD has run a perfect race with a horrible jockey. Vaughn isn’t put off by this, though. He loves Billie through all of her faults and her family drama. After this scene above, they make love for the first time. Billie and Vaughn have ups and downs throughout the plot of “Off to the Races,” but they keep coming back together when one of them needs the other. I thought this was really sweet, how one would always be there to support the other throughout all the drama. I also loved how much Billie loved DD. It was nice to see love for an animal on page. In most books I read, the animal companion is just there for comedy or to add to the fast paced plot, whereas here, DD was a support to Billie when she needed him most. When DD is proved a very profitable horse does he end up being optioned to be sold and does Vaughn accept this offer or does he choose Billie? I’ll let you read for yourself but it was exciting to see which way he chose to go. 

Overall, I loved “Off to the Races!” It had everything I look for in a good romance book from the moody guy at first anyway, to the girl who tries to soften him up to side characters that very much stay side characters! I like it when a romance book solely focuses on the relationship of our main couple and I felt like “Off to the Races” did this well. The other books in the Gold Rush Ranch series focus on characters some of the side characters from this book. The next one, “A Photo Finish” focuses on Violet, the sister of a character in the next series, “Chestnut Springs.”

I’ll read “Out of the Gate,” the prequel novella that comes before “Off to the Races,” next. I probably won’t review that, although if there’s information I feel necessary, I’ll just add it here after I’ve read it. Otherwise, I’m reading an LGBT book next, as it’s now Pride month! I’m posting this late so I’ve already read PRIDE novels!