This story had all the makings of a perfect small-town romance: a single dad NEW sheriff, a sassy wild child, and a surprise Vegas wedding. When Sheriff Cole and Ginger, his best friend’s little sister, accidentally tie the knot after a wild weekend, they decide to keep it under wraps until their lives calm down. But as Ginger spends the summer helping Cole with his daughter, Mabel, their unexpected marriage starts to feel more like fate.

Ginger's bold personality clashes with Cole’s guarded nature, making their chemistry even more electric. There’s a great blend of tropes here: best friend’s sibling, accidental marriage, and a hint of enemies to lovers. With a shared childhood history and undeniable sparks, it’s clear from the start that they’re meant for each other. Watching Cole slowly let his guard down, especially as he sees how much Mabel adores Ginger, is heart-melting.

This has easily been my favorite in the series, full of emotion, tension, and just the right amount of spice. A well-paced, feel-good romance that hits all the right notes.

"You don’t have to ask me. I volunteer. I know exactly what it means to love you, Cole. I think on some level, I’ve always loved you. And I want it all. Every last piece. Especially Mabel.”

~PLAY WORST WAY BY RILEY GREEN. COLE AND GINGER to a T

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

This series is HOT! and Cole and Ginger were no different!

Such a great series for fans of Elsie Silver or spicy small town / cowboy lovers!

Paisley has created the cutest found family and its so comforting returning every book in the series!

this was my most anticipated in the series thus far and honestly I was a little underwhelmed. It was a good book and it has every trope that I could ever want. I just felt like something was missing.

Cole and Ginger were HOT!! the sexual chemistry was off the charts but unfortunately I felt like that is what carried them. Mabel was a joy to read though. Easily one of my favorite kids in a book. She was so aware but also felt like her age.

After reading all the books thus far in this series of interconnected stand alones, I can officially say that they are... just alright. The blurb for Riding the High was enticing, especially after meeting these characters in the previous installments, but it was like the author conveniently forgot that these MCs were supposed to hate each other? The audience is jerked through the "maybe enemies" to "secret pals who just don't tell our friends/family that we hang out" to suddenly secret spouse arc, which was exhausting to follow.
As a firm supporter of a single dad/nanny trope, this one has some juicy bits for that subplot! I loved the relationship between the FMC and the daughter, and how this blossomed through the story. I was longing for more content with this as the focus, and I feel like Paisley Hope executed this well.
And then... we get thrust into the conflict, which leads to the worst trope in all of romance. Miscommunication. Or lack-thereof altogether. Honestly, what even was that? This had the makings of a romantic-suspense, which could've been cool but then the MMC just decides "I'm just not going to talk to her about this and shut her out for a day or two" which was not like his character at all.
The conclusion to this one really brought down my rating, and I'm not sure that I will continue to read books by PH at this rate. Thanks to Dell for the ARC of this book!

Riding the High by Paisley Hope delivers a sweet, small-town romance with a dash of tension and a hint of second-chance vibes. The story follows a cop and a teacher who find themselves unexpectedly thrown back into each other's orbits when she agrees to babysit his daughter for the summer. What starts as a slightly antagonistic reunion gradually gives way to something warmer—and deeper.

The setup leans into the “enemies-to-lovers” trope, but it’s more of a simmer than a storm. Both characters harbored crushes on each other back in their teen years, so their friction feels more like unspoken longing than true conflict. For readers craving some real angst or emotional upheaval, the romance here might feel a bit too easygoing. There are moments where you wish they'd dig a little deeper or really challenge each other emotionally, but the sweetness of their connection still makes for an enjoyable read.

While Riding the High is charming in its own right, the sequel edges it out by delivering a more dynamic plot and emotional depth. Still, this first installment sets the tone well and introduces a world you might want to revisit.

Overall, a solid small-town romance with likable leads, cute kid moments, and a low-angst love story. If you're looking for a gentle return to first loves with a police badge and a chalkboard in the mix, this one might just hit the spot.

Riding the High by Paisley Hope is a beautifully crafted novel that takes readers on an unforgettable journey. From the first page, Hope’s writing shines with raw honesty and lyrical grace, drawing you deep into the world of her characters and never letting go. A deeply affecting and ultimately empowering read, Riding the High is a triumph. Paisley Hope has written a story that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Highly recommended. I loved the story of Cole and Ginger!

We finally get Cole and Ginger’s story after it’s been teased for the past two books. I loved seeing Ginger and Cole’s not so secret friendship and how in sync they are- knowing when to rile each other up and when to just show up. Ginger and Cole make a great team and when you add sweet Mabel into the mix it’s just the best. Mabel and Ginger have such a fun and sweet relationship which makes it even more impossible for Cole not to fall even more head over heels for Ginger.

The friendship and connection Cole and Ginger have only intensifies their chemistry and I can’t wrap my head around how much of a slow burn they were to begin with before their Vegas wedding. The willpower these two have is super impressive and it was worth the wait for their story.

I’m really enjoying my time reading the Silver Pines series and I can’t wait for the next book with Ivy’s sister Cassie but the story I really want and hope we get is Olivia and a certain bartender/fire chief’s story *fingers crossed *



Thank you @ballantinebooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Any chance I get to go back to Silver Pines Ranch, is my absolute favorite! The most recent installment ofthe series, Riding the High, was an incredible addition to a series I love so much. From the very beginning of book one, we were given glimpses of Ginger and Cole and all the possibilities they could be with their top tier banter. I loved all of it, so finally getting their own story just made me so happy!

Ginger Danforth is most definitely one of my favorite FMCs I have read in a very long time. Her spunk, authenticity, and love for the people around her just makes her such a fun character to follow. She is a girl’s girl through and through. I would love to be a part of the Not Angels and have Ginger be mybestke. The way she cares for Cole and Mabel is so heartwarming and special. The family/team the three of them make was everything!

Cole Ashby! Need I say more? This man is next level. I love the father that he is to his little girl which makes him even more wonderful. On top of that, the husband he becomes to Ginger…took me out and I was done. That was his wife and he treated her as such in a way that made me melt into a ridiculous puddle. He deserved so much and to finally find the love he needed in his life made me so happy.

Everything about the series has me in a literal chokehold! I love all of the characters, their stories, and the way they just love one another. The found family/friend is one of my favorites. Anytime I get to go back to Laurel Creek or Silver Pines Ranch is a good time!

Tropes:
- single dad
- best friend’s brother
- accidental Vegas wedding
- secret friends to lovers
- mutual pining
- “it’s always been you”
- sheriff MMC
- sassy & feisty FMC
- found family
- small town

Thank you so much @authorpaisleyhope & @netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Vegas trip for a combined bachelor/bachelorette party and end up marrying the bride’s brother. They are secret friends, he hires her as his daughter’s nanny for the summer while they are secretly married. Feelings are high. Hands are not kept to oneself. Very hot and steamy read.

I can say without a doubt—I’ve been waiting for this book since the moment Ginger and Cole first showed up in book one. Their playful sass, sharp banter, and electric interactions made it clear: something was simmering beneath the surface. And wow, did they ever deliver.

Finding out they’d been keeping a lowkey friendship all along? Perfection. They’d been circling this thing between them for ages, and the anticipation made their story that much more satisfying. I especially loved the truth-or-dare dynamic—neither of them could resist a challenge, and it made their connection all the more fiery and fun.

I was left wanting a bit more detail about their infamous night in Vegas. I get why they tried to act like nothing had changed, but we knew everything had. Watching them try to navigate that shift, pretend things were normal, while everything was clearly not—that tension was gold.

Their opposites-attract dynamic added such depth. Cole, ever the planner and protector, paired perfectly with Ginger’s free-spirited, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants energy. They balanced each other beautifully. And the growing bond between Ginger and Cole’s daughter? Heart-melting.

The slow burn between Cole and Ginger that simmered across the first two books finally ignited here, and wow—worth every second. The tension was delicious: flirty banter, shared secrets, late-night run-ins, and those lingering glances that practically sparked off the page. Their chemistry has always been electric, but this book turned it into a full-blown wildfire. What really made it special, though, was the unshakable bond of friendship beneath it all. That foundation gave their romance so much heart and staying power. I loved how their relationship brought out the best in both of them—more joy, more confidence, more peace. They became their own little unit, and it was so satisfying to watch them find their way there with the full support of their found family.

It was also such a joy to see the whole gang again. Every cameo from the Silver Pines crew felt like coming home to your favorite people—warm, familiar, and full of love. Paisley Hope has built a small-town world that feels like a hug in book form, and I’m already counting down the days until Freeing the Wild hits shelves later this year.

Cole and Ginger had me locked in from the start, as I’m always a sucker for friends to lovers and more. This is my first book by Paisley Hope and I will need to read everything of hers now, as her humor and sass is just my style.
I loved the back and forth between Cole and Ginger and immediately was rooting for them to realize what everyone else could see all along, that they were simply a fit. Throw in an adorable kid that pulls at your heart, some drunken hi-jinx in Vegas where not everything that happens there stays there, and figuring out what you always wanted is right in front of you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity to read it ahead of its release.

My heart will never be the same after Cole Ashby. I don’t think my heart will be the same after this serie to be fair. We all deserve a fictional man created by a woman.
I usually don’t read childhood friends, best friend brother and single dad trope books cause it seems like a lot, or the chance for a huge mess with all those tropes together but *insert sigh*, it was amazing. The way they get each other, how during the past books in the series you see a glimpse of what they have but on this one you see it flourish and grow and 😩
Chef kiss 💋

🚔best friend brother
🚔slow burn
🚔small town
🚔drunk marriage
🚔childhood friends
🚔single dad

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Riding the High by Paisley Hope is the third installment in the Silver Pines Ranch series, delivering a heartwarming and steamy small-town romance that blends impulsive decisions with emotional depth. The story centers on Cole Ashby, a newly appointed sheriff and single father, and Ginger, a congressman's daughter. Their unexpected Vegas wedding sets the stage for a journey filled with passion, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating newfound love under public scrutiny. Some tropes of riding the high are Best Friend’s Brother, it is a Small-Town romance, Friends to Lovers, Single Dad, Accidental Marriage.

4.5 stars

Another book filled to the brim of pure addiction. The narrators for this one only amplified it!

Cole and Ginger! Gah!!! If you read the previous books you will know how excited I was to read theirs! They have the best banter! BEST! Add on him being her best friend’s older brother, Vegas, sheriff, occasional cowboy, nanny and single dad, you have a winner in my eyes! Then the spice?! 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 I was here for it all!!! I knew Cole would have a dirty mouth though and it lived up to my expectations and then some!

I loved the relationship that Ginger and Mabel have. It’s so beautiful! I loved how this whole story flowed and the twists and the emotions evoked! It’s just such an amazing book and so easy to read and get lost in! Definitely recommend!!!

This book, this family, Ginger and Cole, AND MABEL! I'm just so full of joy. I've been waiting for this book ever since reading Holding The Reins, and let me tell you!!! It did not disappoint! I love this trio, "Daddy's Girls." The way Ginger and Cole got married, and the G. Mabel is just cuteness overload, and the way Ginger just fit right in. I caught myself tearing up multiple times. The Ashbys are such a tight family, I wish to have something like that someday. Also the playlist for this book is top tier, so many amazing songs. I don't really know what else to say. But if you haven't read this series yet...PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU, READ IT!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

I have quickly become obsessed with Paisley's stories. She knows how to do romance + real life issues.

I dont want to give too much away, but this single dad trope reeled me right on in.

The banter was good, the smut was shutting.
It was an all around good read for me.

I absolutely loved Cole & Ginger’s story! They’re probably my very favorite couple of this series because of all the tension over the years! I loved the flashbacks too.

Officially my favorite of the Silver Pines Ranch series! Ginger and Cole together are perfection! I love the little family they create and to read about Ginger and Mabel’s relationship. I also adore the banter between Ginger and Cole. The spice is also 🔥🔥🔥


Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

“It’s always been you, Ginger. And I have no fucking clue what to do about that. Besides maybe keep you.”
“I don’t know what to do either… besides maybe let you.”

Paisley has done it againnnnn. I knew Cole and Ginger’s story was going to be my favorite, but it went above and beyond that. I always love an accidental Vegas wedding, but throw in a hot single dad sheriff who accidentally marries his secret friend, who also happens to be his sister’s best friend…. And I don’t think anything can top that. Ginger is a free spirit, and brings all the sassy and wild child vibes to the table. The relationship that Ginger has with Mabel alone is everything a parent wants for their child. Everything about Cole and Ginger felt so organic. Their playful banter, always giving each other a hard time, but also always being there for each other when they needed someone. A relationship full of trust, desire and lust. They were always meant to be. And can we talk about the secret tattoo?! AHHHH.

Thank you so much to Paisley, Random House Publishing, Dell Romance and NetGalley for an early copy of Riding The High. This series holds a huge spot in my heart.

read if you love:
single dad, sister’s best friend, small towns, summer nanny, secret tattoos, he’s the sheriff but she cuffs him, she’s a teacher, found family, accidental Vegas wedding, nicknames, secret friends to lovers, forbidden romance

☆ 5/5

Right from the get-go, this book pulls you into a world brimming with longing, peril, and tangled emotions. The spark between the two main characters is off the charts—a slow-burn attraction that simmers below the surface and eventually boils over. But what truly sets this story apart isn’t just the crackling tension — it’s the emotional depth woven into every chapter that really hits home.