I picked up Riding the High expecting a lighthearted accidental-marriage romance—and it absolutely delivered on the fun. But what I didn’t expect was how emotionally grounded and quietly beautiful the story would be.

This book is a swoony, emotionally rich romance that blends small-town charm, accidental chaos, and deep character chemistry into an unputdownable read.

Cole Ashby is everything I love in a romance hero: steady, protective, and deeply devoted to his daughter. The fact that he’s trying to prove himself as the new sheriff while navigating this wild, unexpected marriage makes him even more endearing. And Ginger? I loved her. A congressman’s daughter with a rebellious streak, she’s torn between the image she's supposed to maintain and the life she secretly craves. Watching her unravel those layers was incredibly satisfying.

Paisley does a brilliant job balancing heartfelt moments with playful tension. The dynamic between Cole and Ginger feels real and earned—the kind of connection that simmers under the surface even as they pretend to keep it under wraps. Watching Cole juggle fatherhood, public responsibility, and his very not-so-platonic feelings for his accidental wife makes for both laugh-out-loud and lump-in-the-throat moments.

This isn't just a romance. It's about trust, vulnerability, and what it means to build something lasting in a world that’s full of reasons to walk away. The stakes feel personal, the emotion is genuine, and by the end, you’ll be rooting not just for the couple—but for the quiet, stubborn hope that love can show up when you least expect it and change everything.

OOOOOO MY GOODNESS... COLE IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

I devoured this book in one day, nothing could stop me from putting this book down. The friendship between Cole and Ginger is full of trust, banter, and tension. Paisley did an amazing job of showcasing the relationship Mabel has with Cole and also Ginger. I also enjoyed the fact that the morning after, we only got a few details of the wedding night. Those details were perfect and spicy.

This is probably the first book where I love the nickname son both sides, Vixen and Law Daddy. I enjoyed the fact that Cole has always called Ginger Vixen. I bookmarked so many pages that I want to go back to later on, especially since the book is also in audiobook form. I can't wait to listen to this book!

Tropes:
Small Town
Single Dad
Friends to Lovers
Accidental Vega Wedding
Slow Burn

ARC Review
Thank you Paisley, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity!

5/5 stars

The last Ashby sibling's book was by far my favorite! Cole and Ginger's attraction has been blatantly obvious since the 1st book of the series. Ginger is our HILARIOUS party girl and gets her kicks by annoying Cole, the new sheriff.

After a trip to Vegas ends with both Ginger and Cole accidentally married, both secretly choose to stay married for personal reasons. These two kept me laughing and swooning! Paisley knows how to write romance!

“You can lie to yourself all you want, but the only way I’m letting you come tonight is if you admit the truth and tell me this soaking cunt is all mine.”

Thank you to the author and NG for the ARC!

This has easily become my favorite in the series! The bickering, the tension, the spice!! All amazing. This book was made up of so many of my favorite tropes and they were all done SO WELL! Paisley as always does an amazing job at making us fall in love with these couples and can’t help but want more of them.

4.5/5

5⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Well yall, Paisley put out another banger and this might be my fave of the series so far.

I absolutely LOVE a single dad and a hot nanny trope and this one was HOT but also so sweet.

Cole is the local sheriff and a single dad to Mabel who is 8 years old. He and Ginger have been friends for years but they both have a thing for each other.

Cole is known for being the local playboy, never wanting to settle down since he left Mabels mom. He's afraid to get attached to anyone and would rather have his fun and move on.

Ginger has been a constant in Coles life. Always there for him. They know each other better than anyone else in their lives.
A trip to Vegas to celebrate Coles brothers turns into so much more- like accidentally married more.

Needless to stay what happens in Vegas comes home with Cole and Ginger and they have to figure out how to handle this problem.

I enjoyed Cole and Gingers story so much. The friends to lovers, reformed playboy, single dad/nanny tropes just hit in the BEST way. Also, Mabel is the cutest little girl and the bond she forms with Ginger just absolutely melted my heart.

The picnic scene and the swimming. SO FREAKIN HOT.
Ginger is a spicy red head and I just love her character so much. She gives Cole a run for his money and isn't afraid to tell him what she wants and how she wants it.

Riding the High is out NOW! It's available on KU as well!
Thank you so much to Paisley and @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC and opportunity to read and review this book.
I absolutely loved it.

As always, thank you so much NetGalley for the incredible opportunity of receiving this arc. I will forever be thankful for this. 🫶🏻

Rating: 3.5 ✰

➼ I really enjoyed this one, and I want to say that if you want to pick this book up you don’t need to read the other ones because I didn’t and it didn’t make anything confusing. But if you do, you will probably get more the dynamic of the friend group, small town and the family. I will probably pick the first two books eventually because I want to read more about these characters.

➼ I really like Ginger, she was feisty and sassy but had depth to her. She reminded me a little bit of Willa from Chestnut Springs. I also enjoyed Cole and how he was such a good dad and always put Mabel first no matter what. They had chemistry and tension from the start and I liked that we got their friendship but at the same time since they got married in Vegas at like the first 10% or something, I feel like we didn’t get to see more of their friendship before it became lusty (but that can also be because I hadn’t read the first books). This is a spicy book, as soon as they crossed that line they were doing it almost every other chapter which I don’t mind my smutty books but there were times that it was too much because they used that as a mechanism instead of talking about their feelings.

➼Overall it was a fun spicy time and I can’t wait to read more about this characters and the families.

4.5/5 ⭐️s
🌶️🌶️ - medium spice

LOVES:
- The way they both repressed their feelings for so long is both impressive and ridiculous 🙄
- Cole’s daughter is a sweetheart and lends a major cute factor to the story
- My favorite part is always the turning point when one of them (usually the MMC) finally decides it’s time to really go for it. Of course, it takes some convincing for the other person, but that’s the fun stuff 😉
- The conflict and resolution were done really well. Just enough tension and communication to make it entertaining, but not frustrating.

CRITIQUE:
- The beginning felt important, but like the point could have been made in fewer pages. Once we hit the wedding/nannying I was all in!

Very sweet and exactly what you’d expect. Third in the series, but my first book from Paisley. I would absolutely read more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Ballantine Books for the eARC 💝

one of my favorite small town universes. every time I'm in Silver Pines Ranch I feel like I am right there with them that's how comfy and cozy it feels.

WHEWWWW. ginger and cole were a VERY HIGHLY ANTICIPATED READ since before Paisley got traditionally published. I was foaming at the mouth for the crumbs that they gave. Their banter and the tension it's like you could feel it on the pages and that was just in the other two books. THIS BOOK????? HOLY MOLY. this was HOT. like HOTTTTT.

They have always had an attraction to one another but never told each other and then one night early on in their friendship Ginger kisses him and he basically rejected her. Fast forward here they are and they go to Vegas for the weekend for the joint bachelorette/bachelor party of Nash and Cece, spend the night drinking like there is no tomorrow and boom wake up the next day to rings on their fingers. Memories of spending the night together and getting married in Vegas. You know, what basically happens to everyone in Vegas after a wild night. They decide to keep the marriage a secret until Cole gets officially sworn in as the sheriff and Ginger has a job as Mabel's nanny for the summer then they decide to split ways.

Obviously, that is not what happened and before the summer was even up they were declaring their love for each other. Ginger is my mf girl like I love her. She is a baddie but such a softie at heart. my little oreo. Cole, daddy law...who knew he had that mouth on him jesus. the things he says has to be studied. i need a man in uniform ASAP. their love. the yearning. the longing. ginger's relationship with mabel and how they became a team.

i honestly loved this book. there are no words that can encapsulate the emotions i went through. so well worth the wait and the epilogue.....I CRIEDDDD they are so cute. I can't wait to be back in Silver Pines soon.

Thank you so much to Paisley Hope, Dell Romance and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

5 ☆

Every word this talented author writes is a true pleasure, and I fully embrace her work without hesitation. Cole and Ginger are the delightful friends I never realized I needed, and I will cherish them alongside the entire Ashby Clan for years to come. From the moment I opened this book, I was filled with excitement and happiness! This charming story of an unforeseen Vegas wedding featuring a devoted single-dad sheriff and his secret friend captures everything I love about romance. I felt a strong connection to Ginger—fiery and passionate; I genuinely admired her steadfast support for her friends and Cole. Cole represents the perfect partner: devoted, loving, and undeniably charming, especially with his daughter, Mabel. Their relationship made my heart soar! I appreciate the thoughtful references to past characters and how Paisley tackled the single-parent theme. The rich history between Cole and Ginger, their palpable tension, and their fiery chemistry captivated me! The picturesque small-town backdrop and the dynamic of the Ashby family make this series utterly enchanting. "Riding the High," the third book in the Silver Pines Ranch series, initially drew me in. Their playful exchanges and undeniable chemistry solidified them as my favorite couple! If you haven't started this delightful series yet, now is the perfect time!

The audiobook was truly an extraordinary experience! The narrations were performed with such skill that they brilliantly showcased the narrators’ exceptional talents. Erin Mallon and Thomas Oakley brought their characters to life with astounding finesse, imbuing each role with profound emotional depth that resonated with listeners. Mallon’s remarkable ability to seamlessly shift between different voices created richly nuanced personalities, while Oakley’s powerful delivery added captivating gravitas to the narrative. Their dynamic performances transformed the story into a vibrant, immersive journey, making it feel like the characters shared their experiences with the audience. The combination of evocative storytelling and masterful voice acting made this audiobook an unforgettable auditory adventure, leaving a delightful and lasting impression long after the final chapter concluded. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone looking to be transported into another world!

I really like this series! Book 3 was a cute and fun friends to lovers/secret marriage story with Cole and Ginger. They are a fun couple with sizzling chemistry and equally sizzling spicy scenes. This book was well written with great dialogue, good conflict and an interesting storyline. They’ve been good friends since Cole was married to his first wife. Cole has always been careful and protective of his daughter since her mother kind of left her.

One night in Vegas and the two blur those friend lines. They get drunk and end up married. Cole is trying to become the town Sheriff and Ginger is the daughter of a congressman. A divorce won’t look good right now. They decide to fake it for now. Except, they might accidentally be in love with each other.

The middle was a little bit slow but I still was interested enough to find out what happens to the characters. I’m looking forward to more stories by this author. I received this book from Random House Publishing-Ballantine and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

4.25⭐
A drunken Las Vegas wedding that must be kept secret for three for political reason before they can divorce. Plus, Ginger and Cole must be my favorite friends to lovers that I have read in a long time. If not done well, I find all that internal dialogue can get cringy. But here was it was the perfect amount as was the spice. Plus Cole relationship with his daughter, Mabel, was enough to melt my heart. The Silver Pines Ranch series features interesting and fully developed characters and is rapidly becoming one of my favorite series. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
-best friend's brothers
-secret friends to lovers
-single dad
-accidental/secret marriage
-forced proximity
-small town

Riding the High is book three in the Silver Pines Ranch series and is Cole and Ginger's story.

Ginger is best friends with CeCe, who we meet in book one. Cole is Cece's brother. Ginger always had a thing for Cole for as long as she could remember and now as adults they share a great friendship.

Cole is a great dad and has put his daughter first. Ginger is who is just a ray of sunshine and know exactly what buttons to push on Cole. This was a friends to lovers story written well! These two have banter and chemistry and it was nice to finally read their story. Cole and Ginger had become a great support system to one another and after a drunken night in Vegas find themselves married. Then, Ginger moved in with Cole to become his nanny to his daughter and just that. But does it just stick to that?

I thought this was a nice story and a good addition to the series.

Two best friends, a wild weekend in Las Vegas that leaves them waking up to find out they got married... and a fake marriage to pull off... except their feelings for each other are only becoming more real and when the end date of their agreement comes up... will they end it or make it official? The third book in the Silver Pines Ranch series and it follows newly appointed sheriff playboy Cole Ashby and his best friend, congressman's daughter and complete Vixen, Ginger Danforth. Cole and Ginger have known each other their entire lives, Ginger is Cole's sister's best friend and they kissed when they were younger until he turned her down and rejected her... now years later they're best friends. Cole is a playboy who for some reason despite all the women he sleeps with the only one he actually wants to be around is his best friend, Ginger. Cole is the newly appointed sheriff and has a younger daughter he also has to look after but during a wild weekend in Vegas, Ginger and Cole play a game of truth or dare, add in some drinks (too many) and find themselves not only married but having slept together for the first time. Cole and Ginger decide to keep the marriage a secret so that Ginger's father's re-election will go well and Cole can land the sheriff job permanently. But keeping this marriage together means Ginger is moving into Cole's house and spending the summer with his daughter and him... and it's him realizing that resisting temptation and keeping his control of his desires for Ginger is going to be harder than ever, and it's making him realize that he is in fact falling for her... and that he wants this marriage to be real but he has to find a way to convince Ginger that he means the real thing and that he is determined to be her husband. Oh I absolutely adored this so so much. Ginger and Cole reminded me of Nick and Jess from New Girl, two people who have a history but have always danced around each other but are completely perfect for each other despite. I adore Ginger so so much, she's just so sweet and cute and the way she loves Cole's daughter Mabel was so sweet. I couldn't get enough of the romance between Ginger and Cole!! This is such a fantastic series and I can't wait for the next one!!

Release Date: May 6, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you for the chance to read and review "Riding the High" in advance. I really enjoy this series by Paisley Hope and I look forward to what comes next.

I liked Cole and Ginger’s relationship. It was great to see how Ginger connected with Cole’s daughter, making them feel like a family.

Although the book started slowly and felt long, I found the ending with Mabel, Ginger, and Cole to be worth it. I also appreciated the epilogue that showed the future for all the characters.

STORY
🌟🌟🌟🌟

SPICE
🌶️ mild

RECOMMEND
💳 yes

I am obsessed with everything Paisley writes. Small town romance meets sheriff x best friend’s brother. I am a sucker for a good best friend’s brother romance and Paisley did not disappoint. The mouth on Cole Ashby is everything. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a steamy, banter filled, small town romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Paisley Hope for the ARC.

The third in a series that can be read as a standalone, this was a friends to lovers, dual POV, SPICY small town romance perfect for Elsie Silver fans and GREAT on audio narrated by Erin Mallon and Thomas Oakley. I loved the heartfelt, slow burn, mutual pining romance between a single dad sheriff and a congressman's daughter who get secretly married in Vegas on a drunken night and try to keep it hidden to avoid a scandal. Recommended for anyone who enjoys modern cowboy romances and authors like Lyla Sage or Bailey Hannah!! Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed Cole and Ginger!
The ‘secret friends’ was a great aspect and getting snippets of the past really brought out the fact that these two really saw each other.
I will be reading more accidental marriage tropes!!



secret friends to lovers
best friends brother
accidental marriage
forced proximity
single dad

ARC review:

Accidental marriage, secret friendship?? I knew I was going to love Cole and Ginger’s story from all the little previews we got from books 1 and 2 and I was all in from the jump. Cole and Ginger are so so good together! The banter, chemistry, and spice were all on point. 😮‍💨🥵👌🏻 The single dad trope gets me every single time! Cole Westin Ashby was 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😍😍😍. Loved Ginger’s relationship with Mabel. Thank goodness there was no third act breakup because I would’ve been ready to riot. Love this series so much!

This amazing book made it on my 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 and so far this entire series has made it on my top reads. This author was a new to me author and I read one book and BAM I WAS HOOKED! Lets dive into it.

This is book 3 in the series and I would recommend reading from book one. Now Ginger and Cole have know each other for a long time, they have history and Ginger is Cole's little sister's best friend. These two have he weirdest relationship, more like a situationship without the hanky panky. It was a lot of fun to watch them before the lines for blurred. Now I do my reviews without spoilers but girl when I tell you that the SPICE AND SMEXY SCENES in this were HOT. BELIEVE MEEEE! Phew!

Ginger is a school teacher and Cole is the local town's Sherrif. He is also a single dad and Ginger is no stranger to Mabel. When these two weirdos end up in vegas....well lets just say what happens in Vegas comes back home with you for them. Now they are in this pickle and end up living together which works out because Cole needs someone at home with Mable and Ginger is perfect, she can tutor her and watch her at the same time. Well, how does one resist the sweet, sassy, fun, smart and sexy Ginger? NOT COLE i tell you! Hahahah I had so much fun reading this and the story line was catchy, everything about it kept me engaged. Down to the last page. This was a emotional ride though because I read the other books you get a glimpse of these two and it was like a ticking time bomb between them. I loved them together, I loved that they are polar opposites, I love that both have a need that only the other can feed....15/10 for everything including the details and writing style. I am excited for what's next!!

p.s. I did end up reading this twice because I got the ARC so early I knew reading it again I would love it and I think I loved it even more!

AHHHHH THIS WAS PHENOMENAL!!! lawdaddy and ginger have been cooking in the slow burner from book one- and they were absolutely worth the wait! literal heart eyes and drool worthy chemistry occur between these two, from their banter and flirting, to their nights in vegas and in the hot tub, to the secret tattoo/branding and nicknames- every bit of it is perfection. the love law daddy has for his girls is like none other & i adore gingers relationship with mabel>>>>

huge thanks to netgalley, Paisley’s team and publisher, for allowing the opportunity for me to receive an ARC! after listening to the audios of book one and two i knew i needed to finish this gem on audio after release!

erin mallon and thomas oakley were freaking fabulous- their narrations were perfection!

tropes: single dad, best friends brother, friends to lovers, fake marriage, secret marriage, nanny romance, witty banter
vibes: funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment