Every time I pick up a Paisley Hope book my jaw is on the floor. I swear there is magic in these books.

Riding the High is everything!!! Paisley can do no wrong in this series. Every single thing about this was amazing. Steamy, heartfelt, and full of sweet moments and irresistible tension. This friends to Vegas to marriage to real life love story had me swooning, grinning and flipping or tapping the pages late into the night!! I do not regret it one bit!

Cole Ashby is the kind of romance hero you can’t help but fall for - steady, grounded, and fiercely protective, especially when it comes to his daughter.

Ginger Danforth, on the other hand, is a fiery force of nature looking to escape the expectations of being a congressman’s daughter. Their chemistry is instant and electric, and when a wild Vegas weekend ends in a very unexpected “I do,” the real fun begins.

I loved reading/watching these two navigate their fake marriage turned all to real connection. I mean, c'mon, these two had a friendship like no other. The slow unraveling of their emotional walls was such a burn. The steamy scenes had me flushed and I was unsure if I was having a hot flash or not....wait, I think I am still to young for those but I think you get where I am coming from. Cole and Ginger's journey from friends to something much deeper is filled with banter and heartwarming moments.

If you enjoy forced proximity, single dad romance, or the classic “oops, we’re married” trope, this book is an absolute treat. Riding the High proves that sometimes love doesn’t follow the rules—and thank goodness for that.

5⭐️

If you like:
Single Dad
Secret Best Friends to Lovers
Best Friends Brother
Accidental/Secret Marriage
Forced Proximity
Reformed Playboy
One Night Stand
Secret Pining
He Falls Hard
Small Town Romance

This book was on top of my TBR, and I love all of Paisley Hope's books, so when I saw my request was accepted, I was so happy. This book was written so beautifully, and I also loved the mention of Brooklyn 99. Also, the Vegas wedding trope is the best. I fell in love with every aspect of this book.


Thank you, Paisley for this ARC copy.

"𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑜𝓁𝑜 𝓊𝓃𝒶 𝒱𝑜𝓁𝓉𝒶"

I'll take this town Sherriff single daddy over a cowboy any day..

If you haven't read this series, please do me a favor and start because the lead up to Ginger and Cole Ashby is so worth it!

Ginger has been Cole's little sister's best friends since they were knee high to a grasshopper. The tension and banter has always been chefs kiss between these two, and now that they are on their way to celebrate a wedding in Vegas guess who decides to get married? Wow their Summer was hawttt. Who doesn't love a Vegas wedding?

The relationship Ginger had with Cole's daughter Mabel was so sweet and they were the perfect daddy's girls combo! The Ashby family is so perfect throughout each book and papa Dean always makes me LOL. Cole Ashby, I am so in love with this man, the things he did for his girls and their may have been handcuffs involved

If you love: Small town romances, Single Daddy's, "My Wife" and Summer agreements? This one is for you!

Thank you to the author Paisley Hope, Dell Romance, NetGalley for allowing me to continue arc reading this amazing series .

3.25✨
2.5🌶️

🐎Contemporary western romance
🐎Friends-to-lovers
🐎Sheriff mmc x congressman’s daughter fmc
🐎Oops we got drunk married in Las Vegas
🐎Mutual pining
🐎Single dad mmc
🐎Pseudo-nanny fmc for the summer

<i>Riding the High</i> by Paisley Hope is Book 3 in the <i>Silver Pines Ranch</i> series, contemporary western romance books that follow the love stories of the Ashby family. I love this world that PH has created. In 3 books, PH has managed to create a warm and enriched world you can’t help but want to return to again and again. And with the cameos from the previous books’ couples, it was like a comforting hug of nostalgia.
I really liked the first two books of the series, Book 1 more than Book 2, and I was looking forward to diving into Cole Ashby’s story, the emotionally aloof but passionate man who’s a single father to his young daughter Mabel and soon-to-be sheriff of the town. His marriage to Mabel’s mother quickly fell apart 8 years ago – there was no love there to sustain it – and the mother is not very present in Mabel’s life, forcing Cole to take on both roles. But after a drunken marriage to his little sister’s best friend Ginger in Las Vegas, a convenient nanny stand-in hops into place, and as long as they stay married for 90 days so Cole can remain scandal-free until his swearing in, everything should work out for the best. Unless neither of them truly wants the marriage to have an expiration date…

While the characters were interesting and their dynamic engaging, I found myself a little underwhelmed by this entry to the series. Some of Cole’s early behavior in front of Ginger rubbed me the wrong way, and there were too many references to past women/hookups in his life for my own liking, especially when Ginger would compare herself to them. The writing in this book also seemed rushed in places with choppy transitions between plot events. Book 2 came out on December 31, 2024 and this one is scheduled for May 6, 2025, so I almost wonder if more time between releases to refine the writing and solidify the story for this book would’ve helped in this case. Book 4 in the series, <i>Freeing the Wild</i>, is currently slated for a November 11, 2025 release, a little more time between, so that gives me hope I’ll love it just as much as the first two!

Overall, while this entry to the series wasn’t my favorite and felt somewhat rushed and choppy, the world PH has created and the likeability of the Ashby family and their love interests makes this series shine, and keeps me coming back for more. I can’t wait to see what else PH has in store!

Thank you Dell, Paisley, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
I knew Riding the High was going to be a hit for me, but omg, I loved Ginger and Cole's story so much! Paisley really knows how to write a swoony, emotional, and spicy story that draws you in from the first few chapters.
I really loved getting Ginger and Cole's backstory as that really laid the foundation for their relationship, with Ginger always being there for Cole through the ups and downs of his marriage with Gemma. Those moments were just so precious. I also just love the vibe of a Vegas wedding for a hard headed, newly appointed sheriff, like that's so something a smitten Cole would do without fully thinking of the consequences and I loved it.
Ginger being the summer nanny for Mabel was so perfect for not only Ginger becoming a mother figure Mabel never really had, but to grow a relationship with Cole. And let me just say, their chemistry was SO GOOD! Not only in the physical sense (hehe), but Cole was there to reassure Ginger that he was all in on this relationship and the "It's always been you" moment was so perfect. I loved seeing Ginger and Cole grow together and it just felt like their love was almost written in the stars.
Also, I love the fact that we get little snippits of CeCe and Nash & Ivy and Wade throughout and it wasn't just solely focused on the main couple of the book. And the epilogue, omg my heart!
Ginger and Cole will be constantly occupying my thoughts for the foreseeable future, this was such an easy 5/5 star read for me!

Edit to add: my review is going up on my bookstagram today (5/1) - I'm sorry that I didn't put this in my original review, I totally missed it in the approval email... however, my review on goodreads has been up since I wrote this review in March!

Paisley Hope is my favorite ranch romance author. I have grown so attached to this world and characters that she has written in Silver Pines with Riding the High. Cole was such a favorite in this book. Him and Ginger are just incredible and such a fun couple, their secret marriage was an adventure.

I’m going to need more stars because 5 just simply isn’t enough. I loved everything about this book. Ginger and Cole were perfection. *chefs kiss* I loved the relationship Ginger had with Mabel. Who knew Cole Weston Ashby was going to have such a filthy mouth. And when I read handcuff play in the trigger warning, I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be used on Cole. Give me 12 more of these stories.

If you love small town cowboyish books then this is the one for you! If you are a fan of Chestnut Springs, the Eden’s, or Wells Ranch this will definitely be your vibe. This is a best friends brother, they grew up together, she’s his nanny, and accidental marriage. Now that might seem like a lot of tropes but it all goes together perfectly. We have Cole who is the newly appointed sheriff and Ginger who is a teacher. Growing up she had a huge crush on Cole who is her best friend’s older brother. What happens when you go to Vegas? You drunkly marry your crush.

I'm not a huge fan of the writing, but I will say that the covers are gorgeous!! I might not read anymore by this author but I would recommend it to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this ARC! I don’t know why I was hoping this might be better than book 2 (which I hated) but unfortunately it wasn’t. The writing was boring and some phrases gave me the ICK! I did not find Cole attractive whatsoever but Ginger’s personality was a bit fun. The 3rd act conflict was so predictable. A marriage of convenience can be so fun if well done but this one just wasn’t. Cole made so many weird sexual comments about Ginger (“put a baby in her”?? ELECTRIC CHAIR) and so did everyone else! What kind of family is this??? There were also SO many typos and grammatical errors. I think it’s finally time I give up on the Silver Pines series. And always remember: ACAB.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of Riding the High! 🫶🏻 This book was such a treat—romantic, emotional, and full of heart. As someone born and raised in Lexington, KY, it was SO cool to see the Bluegrass represented! I recognized so many places and loved that extra layer of connection.

Cole and Ginger’s love story had *everything*: they wake up married in Vegas, agree to stay secretly hitched for the summer (she needs to keep up appearances for her congressman father, and he’s running to be the town’s sheriff), and suddenly… she’s living with him and helping care for his daughter, Mabel. What starts as a fake setup slowly turns real. I loved the chemistry and banter between Cole and Ginger! Plus the backstory was so sweet especially when there was a flashback to their first kiss in his truck and the reveal at the end that he got a literal *brand* in the shape of a G from the ranch he worked at the summer after… for *her*. 🥹🥹🥹

I didn’t like the sheriff angle (just personal preference, nothing done on the author’s part), and I wish we got more time on the Brent/envelope twist—it felt rushed at the end—but overall, this book was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I’d rate it 3.5 stars (rounding up to 4 on Goodreads!) and a 4/5 on spice.

Tropes you’ll find:
- Accidental Vegas wedding
- Marriage of convenience
- Grumpy playboy x sunshine heroine
- Single dad
- Secret best friends
- Forced proximity / summer roommates
- Slow burn & pining
- Second chance / past kiss
- Great banter & found family

Infinity stars. Paisley Hope does zero wrong.

The way I would bow down to Law Daddy needs no explanation that this book is a top for me. Single dad? Absolutely. Sign me up.

Ginger, can we be besties? I love this dang series and loved seeing her get her happy after watching her friends and people she considers family.

This was so fun!
The daughter of a Kentucky congressman and newly appointed town sheriff accidentally get married in Vegas. In order to avoid a scandal for her politician father and for his newly elected position, Ginger and Cole decide to stay secretly married until everything can blow over quietly. In the meantime, Ginger moves in to nanny his 8-year-old daughter for the summer.

Sparks fly. Lines blur. Especially since Cole and Ginger have already been harboring a secret friendship for years.. because did I mention Cole’s little sister is Ginger’s best friend?! My favorite part though is the adorable relationship between Ginger and Cole’s daughter Mabel — they melted my heart!

Riding the High by Paisley Hope is book 3 in the Silver Pines Ranch Series. This friends-to-lovers, accidental marriage, small-town cowboy romance is beyond wonderful and a great addition to the series! Cole has recently been appointed as interim sheriff and is determined to prove himself at work while also being a devoted single dad. Ginger is the congressman’s daughter and has always struggled with being herself versus keeping up with appearances. Cole is Ginger’s best friends’ brother, and they have become close friends over the past few years. After a wild, drunken night in Vegas for bachelor/bachelorette parties, they wake up a married couple. This book was fun, emotional, exciting, and overall fantastic! The author did a great job of developing the relationships between Cole and Ginger as well as Ginger and Mabel, and I found I had a hard time putting the book down. She also did a great job of incorporating characters from the previous stories into this book and developing upon their previous storylines, however I think you would be able to pick this book up without reading the previous books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not going to lie, this book started out a little slow. Part of me feels like the first 30% of the book could have been condensed, because we understood the dynamics between Cole and Ginger very early on (not to mention the other two books they've been less than obvious in). But once I passed that point I was hooked. They are by far my favorite couple out of the bunch. I absolutely adore Mabel. Sometimes it can be hit or miss when you bring in a kid as a main character, but she was written very well and her relationship with both Cole and Ginger is endearing. I was worried for a moment we were going to have third act break up or drama because Cole kept the Brent threat a secret, but Ginger knocked some sense into him.

Overall, while it took a minute to get started, it's a great, fun, sexy book!

Being a Kentucky girl who currently lives in Lexington, who spends part of every summer in Cave Run Lake, I loved how literally close to home this book hit for me (though there is a disappointing deficit of small-town sheriffs in my life).

Ginger and Cole’s love story has been a long time coming. Their bond is special and unique and kind of magical, actually. They’re such perfect contrasts, not just balancing each other out but pushing each other. From playful baseball rivalries, to takeout and TV, to unfailing honesty and acceptance, Ginger and Cole always manage to be what the other needs. Even when it is most difficult for them, the way they prioritize each other is truly the stuff of romance novels.

Considering what all is revealed in the blurb of this book and the well-established relationship between them from the start of things, this book had a bit more of a slow burn vibe than I was expecting. I love that long before their relationship evolves beyond their preexisting friendship everyone else is already giving them shit about the other. Specifically, Papa Dean roasting Cole about Ginger being perfect for him is just top notch, 10 out of 10, no notes.

I loved how much of the book was spent with them actually being together. Though there is a fair bit of buildup and anticipation, readers get the chance to see these two living in their relationship as it grows and deepens. Their constant friendship and care added such an impactful element to the connection between them. I also really appreciated that there was no third act breakup here as I personally feel it would have undermined the dynamic between Cole and Ginger. Also thrilled to say that the period of miscommunication (or, in this case, lack of communication) didn’t take up a ton of space here—and good for Ginger for stepping up. What a badass she is. 💜

I also loved the bonding between Cole, Ginger, and Mabel. Team Daddy’s Girls is simply perfection, but the fact that each pair of that trio has their own special dynamic is lovely and sweet while also feeling totally in keeping with their characters. I will say, I had mixed feelings about Mabel’s anxieties. I like the representation, and I feel like the way it’s depicted is realistic for a kid of that age, but I wish it had been foregrounded a bit more, maybe even acknowledged in the epilogue. As it stands, it sort of feels like a convenient plot point that shows up halfway through and then fades pretty quickly, never to be heard from again. I love the idea of Mabel’s emotional and mental health improving with the increased stability, but still, that kind of thing doesn’t just go away, and it would have been easy to add a line in the epilogue acknowledging that she’s doing much better but still has rough moments or whatever. Freaking Gemma gets a mention in the epilogue, so it feels like that piece of Mabel’s character could have been paid off a bit more.

Overall, this book surprised me in so many ways, all of them delightful. The characterization, the relationships, the filthy mouth on Cole Weston Ashby (🥵🥵🥵)—all incredible. Maybe even more exciting for me was how lush the writing was. My ARC is full of highlights, well beyond my average amount and oftentimes whole pages in length.

Beautifully done, and well worth the wait.

4.5 ⭐️

I am definitely in my small town / cowboy era because this is the third one I’ve read this month! I think Ginger and Cole’s book just might be my favorite of this series so far. I really enjoyed book one, but there were a few nit picky things I didn’t like. I loved book two, but I forgot about a certain trope and it kind of soured the end for me. Even reading the other two, I said I thought Ginger and Cole’s book would be my favorite. I was right! I loved how this book pretty much picked up where the last one left off. I loved the little flashbacks and how Ginger and Cole were way closer than anyone officially knew. I am such a sucker for a Vegas wedding. I wish we got to see more of it! We really only get the aftermath. I would love to be a fly on the wall when they actually got married. Ginger fits right into Cole’s family. She of course knows Mabel after being around the family and being CeCe’s bestie. But these two get along perfectly. They played house so well, I almost wanted a little more angst and longing? Might I also say while I loved Cole in this book, I am not a cop romance girl. I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up if it wasn’t in a series I already liked. I really liked it and I really liked Cole so I’m glad I read it, but it’s not my usual thing. Luckily they live in a small town so aside from his uniform and annoying coworker, we didn’t have to deal with a whole lot of cop related things. Ginger and Cole together are so effortlessly easy, it’s almost hard to imagine that they got married on accident. She literally fits right in, perfectly in his life. I loved how well they understood each other. I loved how good she was with Mabel. There’s so many good family moments between the two of them. And the spice? In true Paisley Hope fashion, the spice is SPICY! Once again, another reason that I would’ve loved to read about their wild wedding night. These two can’t get enough of each other. While I thought the work drama was unnecessary, it did add an extra little surprise element to the end. One of my favorite parts about this series and pretty much all these small town series is the family aspect. I’ve grown to love this family. I loved them teasing each other. I loved getting to see big life moments for characters we met in previous books. This book was just overall a very fun read. While the last chapter is adorable, the cynic in me just can’t. I won’t fully spoil it, but as cute as it was, I just felt meh about it. It’s too fast! Also the epilogue goes from cute to insane real quick lol Overall, this was still an adorable read and I will definitely continue the series. Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Cole and Ginger are honestly what dreams are made of. The banter was always top notch. I absolutely loved their friendship and kind of where they started. It made it feel a lot more natural as the story progressed. Also just their friendship was so sweet. I love that ginger lit a fire under Cole and made him come out of the shell. But I also love that Cole made Ginger feel a sense of belonging with who she was not who she needed to be. The relationship between Ginger and Mabel was the cutest thing. It was really cool to see a lot of growth for the characters throughout the book, but also the growth of their dynamic as well as they came together. Overall, this book was phenomenal. This whole series is easily a five star series for me. And I am so excited for the next book. I cannot thank NetGalley enough for allowing me to read this arc. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

Let’s be honest, Paisley Hope never disappoints!

Like the rest of the world, I’ve been waiting for Ginger and Cole’s story! And it was perfect! I loved their banter, their spice, and their love for each other and Mabel! It was like a warm hug! Ginger is a girl’s girl! We all need a Ginger in our lives! She is the epitome of a baddie! And Cole Weston Ashby! The things I’d let you do to me… 🥵 Or the things I’d do to you… 🤭 Such a top-notch guy! Perfect book boyfriend! Perfect everything! I loved this story so much! They made the best team!

Of course, we can’t forget the gang! It was so nice to be back in Silver Pines! It was like coming home! Everyone from Mama Jo to Wade and Ivy!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!