After reading Training the Heart, I was so excited to get to read Ginger and Cole’s story! You guys, this book was so good!

Ginger was just a sweet, sassy, funny, ball of energy. I absolutely loved her and how she wasn’t afraid of a dare. She was so kind and loving to Cole’s daughter, Mabel. While she was fun, she always had to be careful because she was under the eye of the public due to her father being a congressman.

Cole was a bit more serious and was very organized. He was an amazing dad to Mabel and he loved his family so much. I loved his playfulness when it came to Ginger. After going through a tough time, Cole was able to lean on her for support. However, now that he’s been appointed the new sheriff in Laurel Creek, he’s being watched very carefully too and has a huge weight on his shoulders. Together, Cole and Ginger need to figure out what they are going to do now that they’re married, after a crazy night in Las Vegas.

The tension and chemistry between these two was definitely off the charts. I love how they were also there to support one another, not only after they were married, but when they were just friends as well. I loved getting the small tidbits of their past. I will say, Mabel was an amazing character for sure. I absolutely loved the relationship and bond that she formed with Ginger.

It was fun to get more of the Ashby family and see where they’re at now in their lives.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you love a spicy, single dad, friends to lovers, accidental marriage romance!

Thank you to Paisley Hope, Random House - Ballantine Dell and NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review!

“Save a horse, ride the sheriff”

What a fun and heartwarming ride—this book totally delivered!

Riding the High is the perfect blend of swoony romance, spot-on spice, and feel-good vibes. The plot kept me engaged from start to finish, with just the right mix of tension, chemistry, and emotional depth. I loved how the story unfolded—it was fast-paced but still gave space for the characters to grow and re-connect in a way that felt genuine.

The relationship between the leads? Top-tier wholesome. Their bond was not only steamy but filled with mutual respect, kindness, and that undeniable spark that makes you root for them from page one. Paisley Hope really nailed the balance between sexy and sweet, making this such a satisfying and entertaining read.

Definitely a solid 4-star (4.5 if I did halves) romance that I’ll be recommending to friends who love a good mix of spice, heart, and happily ever afters!

Finally Cole and Ginger’s story! I’ve read all of the this series so far and I have to say their story has been my favorite. I loved watching their relationship transform. If you love:
-accidentally weddings
-single dad
-best friend’s brother
-friends to lovers
I highly recommend!

Let me start by saying this is the first book I have read in this series. I enjoyed this read and definitely want to read about the rest of the Silver Pines Ranch family. I especially loved Cole’s family and the found family created by the friend group. Now I wish I had read the other two first so I had more of Cole and Ginger’s backstory. Without that I was missing some of the build up and tension that I really enjoy and look for in a romance. I found it hard to believe the “I’ve loved you as long as I can remember” dynamic between them. Especially with the way Cole’s character was portrayed and his history. Overall it was an enjoyable read but no butterflies for me, sadly.

Full review to come (I'm 60ish % through), but for the editor/publisher:
Mabel does not read like an 8-year-old child. As a mother of a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old who substitute teaches at my kid's school (K through 6th), Mabel reads much younger than 8. She's more aligned with a 5 or 6-year-old. My 8-year-old and all their friends are significantly more independent, opinionated, and knowledgable about certain conversation topics (in particular, family roots). None of them (even those who are small for their age) would be children I'd describe as having small or tiny hands etc. Being helped to be set up for coloring etc are all more in line with a 5yr old. (And even my 5yr old packs her own activities and sets herself up when we are in adult situations).


Updated review:

This is the 3 installment in the Silver Pines series, by Paisley Hope. It is a standalone, you do not have to read the previous two books to enjoy this book.

Cole has been a secret friend with is little sister's best friend, Ginger, for quite some time. She was his support system when his "we got pregnant so let's do the right thing" marriage fell apart and the mother of his child left him to be the main caregiver of their young daughter. And then, before all that, there was that one night, that one kiss... that went nowhere. But then, drunk in Vegas, at his sister's bachelor/bachelorette party, where he married Ginger. Needing to keep his job as town Sheriff, and not wanting to upset her fathers ongoing political campaign Cole and Ginger scheme to keep their totally platonic, mistake of a marriage a secret... until they can't.....

This was a sweet and fun "it's always been you", small town romance filled with lots of spice... an emotionally mature single dad and a couple whose HEA is one you will root for.


What to expect: single dad, small cowboy town, secret friends to lovers, best friends brother, she accidental/drunken Vegas marriage, she moves in to be his "nanny", "it's always been you"

3.75 rounded to 4 out of 5 stars.
4 out of 5 spice.

(Why this didn't get a full four stars from me: It's a little petty. I have two elementary school-aged kids and a substitute teacher who spend significant time in Inclusion or closed environment classrooms. Cole's daughter is supposed to be the same age as my older child, but reads much more like the 3-year-old younger sibling. Yes, I know that children develop at different rates, but without a significant developmental delay to explain this gap in ability, it kept tripping me up. I know most readers will say "so what, it's only 3 years". Except a Kindergardener/1st grader is worlds away in attitude, interest, skill, etc from a 3rd/4th grader who is almost twice their age. I kept getting tripped up by this discrepancy.

Thank you to Paisley Hope, Random House - Ballentine Books and Netgalley for an early copy to read and review.

THIS BOOK. I was waiting for this story the most as its book 3 in the series,and it did not disappoint. We get that juicy banter that we love along with an accidental marriage?! LOVE.
I loved Cole and Ginger so much and their chemistry did not disappoint, I knew this book was gonna be a favorite in the series. I can't wait to read book 4.

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!