4.25 stars

Honestly, Ginger's story was the one I was looking forward to the least. I found her to be an obnoxious and immature side character but this book surprised me. I actually ended liking her a lot more than expected. And the story was really cute. Paisley Hope definitely has a tendency to throw so many tropes at the wall for each book and this was no different. We had best friend's sibling, friends to lovers, Vegas wedding, secret relationship, nanny/single dad, forced proximity, reformed rake, the list goes on. But surprisingly it worked better than you'd think.

Couple issues, the timeline from their first kiss to current time seems to be 8ish years (she was just out of high school and now she is 26) but he also has an 8 year old daughter which would have been conceived closer to 9 years prior so I don't fully understand how Cole was hung up on Ginger for months at least but almost immediately gets another woman pregnant and marries her? Also, this book is quite long solely because they have sex so much. I think had this cut down like 100 pages and 5 spicy scenes, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. At some point though the spice gets to be a tad repetitive to me.

Overall though, this was my favorite so far of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I have been waiting for Cole and Ginger's story from DAY ONE. AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

My love for Mr. Cole Ashby started the moment it was announced he was a New York Yankees fan. So he's been #1 in my heart from the beginning. And guess what...he's staying at #1.

This book was nothing short of beautiful. There was so much love radiating off these pages and you couldn't help but root for these two the whole time. I knew in my heart there was never going to be an "expiration date" for their love story. I knew from page one these two were going to last.

Sibling's best friend/best friend's sibling is in my top two favorite tropes. So right off the bat we're starting with a winner. There's something about that forbidden and secret relationship that has me eating out of the palm of its hands. I love it. So Ginger and Cole? I LOVE IT.

We get a bonus Ashby in this as well and that is our dear Mabel. The most adorable little girl. I absolutely LOVE the relationship that Ginger and her form. They are the most adorable "team" out there and it just makes my heart so full to see these three become a family.

But we gotta talk Vegas. Because what happens in Vegas sure as hell didn't stay in Vegas. OH MY LANTA. We get some FUN happening in Vegas and AHHH BE STILL MY EVER LOVING HEART. COLE AND GINGER DO THE THING AND GET MARRIED AND I COULD SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW HAPPY THAT MADE ME.

This whole storyline just sank it's teeth into me and HOOKED ME. It was everything I wanted and more and of course Ms. Paisley Hope SLAYED. She wrote their secret friends to accidentally marred to lovers love story SO DAMN WELL. Paisley, I love you...you know what you did.

Could you tell my thoughts are all over the place? Because I AM IN HONEYMOON BLISS.

I can't even begin to go over every single detail in this book that I loved. Just know, I loved it all. I loved every moment, every kiss, every conversation, every cameo from the Ashby clan - EVERYTHING.

Cole and Ginger have a beautiful love story. Their communication was EVERYTHING. Their words were EVERYTHING. The spice was EVERYTHING. The lovey dovey, mushy gushy WAS EVERYTHING. I am obsessed with these two.

Favorite book of the series so far.

Also, this in an audio format? Yes please.

I love how this was written. I loved the character developments. I loved the romantic developments. I loved the found family aspect. I love the drama of the marriage. I loved all the big moments and all the small moments. I loved it all.

Thank you SO much to Paisley Hope, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the e-arc copy!

Riding the High by Paisley Hope is the kind of romance that hits all the right notes—fun, steamy, and packed with chemistry. Cole and Ginger’s relationship has been simmering for years, but one wild Vegas night (and maybe a few too many drinks) turns their flirty friendship into something a lot more complicated—marriage. With both of them needing to keep it quiet for a while, they agree to ride it out. But what starts as a temporary arrangement quickly starts to feel like the real thing.
Cole is the ultimate book boyfriend—a single dad, a devoted sheriff, and a man who loves hard. He’s the perfect mix of protective, sweet, and just the right amount of filthy. Ginger, on the other hand, is pure fire. She’s spent her whole life living under her father’s shadow, trying to maintain the perfect image, but Cole sees the real her—the one who loves adventure, has a sharp sense of humor, and isn’t afraid to push his buttons. And let’s not forget the bond she forms with Cole’s daughter, Mabel—absolute perfection.
The banter between Cole and Ginger? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry? Off the charts. From teasing each other to moments that will have you fanning yourself, their relationship is full of tension, passion, and so much heart. The accidental marriage trope is always fun, but add in small-town drama, forced proximity, and a little secret pining, and you’ve got a story that keeps you hooked.
If you love a romance that brings the heat but also delivers on the emotional depth, this one’s for you. Paisley Hope has officially made me a fan.


᪥ Western
᪥ Friends To Lovers
᪥ Small Town
᪥ Vegas Wedding
᪥ Single Dad
᪥ No 3rd Act Breakup

REVIEW
cw: grief, brief mention of addiction
Cole Ashby is determined to prove himself as the best man for the job after he's appointed Laurel Creek’s interim sheriff. As a devoted single dad, his goal is to establish a steady childhood for his young daughter, Mabel. Ginger Danforth is Cole's complete opposite. Having always felt stifled by her congressman father, she's dying to break free and embrace the sense of adventure that runs through her veins.
During a wild weekend in Vegas, Ginger and Cole play a game of truth or dare and, after a few too many drinks, find themselves married. With no quick way out, they agree to stay married until Ginger’s father is re-elected and Cole's probationary period as sheriff is over. But neither can deny their very real attraction and as they're forced to spend an increasing amount of time in each other’s company, sparks fly.

I have loved this series so far and was SO excited to read Cole and Ginger’s story because I LOVED the tease of their dynamic in the first two books. This one was definitely a little harder to get into early on (mainly because the flashbacks weren't always clearly delineated from the current-day scenes. However, once the narrative returned to the present day, and the story properly got going, I was quickly hooked.
Cole was such a sweetheart and was so gone for Ginger. I loved what a great father he was to Mabel. There were so many cute moments, usually involving Mabel in some way. The scene where Ginger and Mabel made pasta with Ginger’s nonna’s made my heart burst with happiness. It was so adorable. Mabel was so adorable, but my heart ached for her whenever her mother didn't show up. However, I loved her relationship with Ginger. It was so pure.
Ginger was such a fun character, and I loved getting to know her backstory as well as her teenage crush on Cole, but I hated how her family tried to dull her sparkle. I loved all of her little 'favors', and how smitten Cole clearly was with her, even early on. Their friendship felt authentic and I loved their teasing banter, especially their Brooklyn Nine-Nine references and truth-or-dares. She also had some hilarious one-liners. The Macarena scene made me laugh, and I cackled laughing at Ginger’s baseball decorations. Jealous Cole was adorably grumpy, and I loved Ginger’s response. As for Cole's reaction? It was so hot. I love the secret marriage trope, but it often doesn't make much sense, but I loved the way it was written here. The morning after in Vegas was well-written and I thought Cole's solution actually made sense. The countdown at the start of the chapters afterwards was also a fun touch. But I LOVED the care Cole took with their first date. It was so adorably them, as well as being incredibly thoughtful. The scene in the waterfall was steamy but also beautifully written, and I really loved the way they slowly started to show each other that their feelings were deeper than simply friends-with-benefits, even though neither was brave enough to openly talk about it early on. When they finally spoke their feelings aloud, it was utterly perfect. As always, the intimacy was incendiary throughout, but the chapter after Sangria Sunday? It MELTED MY BRAIN I'm still fanning myself writing about it!
It was lovely to catch up with the rest of the residents. I ADORED the Ivy/Wade update, and Nash and CeCe's wedding and Nash’s gifts were so sweet. As for jealous Cole's reaction at the reception? Phew! Once again I love how Paisley Hope writes alpha men who aren't afraid to step aside for the women they love to exercise their agency in conflict. Cole and Ginger were their best versions around each other as well as being so supportive of each other, and Mabel. Sadly, Gemma was as awful as ever. I saw the conflict coming, and Brent was such a pathetic little man. But the resolution was extremely satisfying
The ending was... *swoons* ...SO gorgeous. Meanwhile, the epilogue was just as swoon-worthy and utterly adorable. I can't wait to read the next in the series

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

*Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Riding the High is published on 24th April in the UK*

Favourite Quotes:

I turn away, stopping myself from staring. I won’t fall back into that old pattern, not when I’ve spent years keeping myself in check.

“If you don’t want to be my one-night stand, then it’s a good thing we’re in Vegas. I dare you to marry me, Ginger, so I can properly f**king worship you.”

“I didn’t kiss you because I was traumatized. I kissed you because I have thought of nothing else since Vegas. I wanted to kiss you. In fact, even with Mabes in the next room, it’s f**king taking everything in me not to kiss you right now. Understand?”

“Eyes here, baby. I’ve waited years to give in to this. I want all your attention now.”

Well, in the spirit of keeping things platonic so we don’t ruin our friendship, on a scale of one to ten, with one being a responsible adult and ten being a total f**king sl*t for Cole Ashby, I’m sitting at about a one hundred and one.

“Alexa, play I-got-railed-into-next-week-by-a hot-sheriff-last-night,” I call out, happier than I’ve been in a long time.

I dip my head down and line her soft shoulders with kisses while taking her hand and placing it on my chest. My heart beats faster just having her beneath me.
“Feel this?” I ask her. She nods so I kiss her again. “It’s all for you, Vixen.”

When our eyes connect across the room, his molten gaze settles somewhere deep within me. It’s more than knowing I’m starting to care for him, a lot. It’s more than I can explain. It’s almost like I can breathe deeper and feel calmer the moment his eyes find mine.

“You’re mine, Ginger. You’ve always been mine.”

Cole looks like a rooster puffing his chest. Though the look he’s wearing isn’t cockiness as I move toward him. It’s . . . pride? He knows I’m crazy about him, and he seems to like it.

“I said, Ginger Lily Ashby. This letter, it’s you,” Cole says.

“Who is the Daddy’s Girls Jam company?” he asks as he chews. “I’d like to invest.” Mabel giggles.
“Me and Ginger and Daddy. That’s our team.”
“Sounds like a pretty solid team,” Wade says with a small smile.

“You’re so f**king next,” he whispers. His hand grazes the small of my back, and I look up at him.
“Can’t wait,” I say softly. His eyes darken, and I know he means every word he says. With him, I want it all.

When Cole picks her up and kisses me, I feel it. The peace I’ve been searching for. The place I’m meant to be, with my very best friend.

"I know without a doubt that when my lungs pull in their last breath, my final thoughts will be of you."

Wooweeee! Truly can't believe I'm saying that the not-a-cowboy sheriff Cole has stolen my heart away from his grumpy brother (I can have both, right??).

After the past two books leaving the angstiest crumbs of Cole and Ginger, I was absolutely starving for their story. The way that their years and years (and years) of history just made the off-limits so dang irresistible. The pining??? YES! The banter?? Uh huh!! The tension? Ughhh!!! Definitely a sucker for a single dad trope over here, but Mabes' dad?? Unreal.

This series is just getting better and better. I'm on the literal edge waiting for Holden's story next. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine | Dell Romance and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Paisley has done it again. I’m obsessed with friends to lovers, best friends brothers, single dad tropes in books, and Paisley achieved that and more. Ginger has been my favorite since Holding the Reins and I KNEW she was going to become a top FMC for me. She’s spunky, driven and boy obsessed but the way that Cole is just as drawn to her was so swoony. Cole was also the perfect dad to Mabel and I loved how easy and uncomplicated their chemistry was. It made it believable and was a breath of fresh air. I loved this story, and was so thankful to have been able to get an early copy! I’m soooo excited for the next book in this series, the fall can’t come soon enough!

Thank you to Netgalley & The Publisher for an e galley in exchange for an honest review.

I do have to say I have been anticipating Cole and Ginger's book since the first book in this series, and I am not disappointed. Ginger is a cutie, and I loved to see Paisley Hope talk about her Italian roots. They made Ginger a firecracker, and I had a lot of fun reading the scenes from her point of view. This book was very up my alley: accidental marriage, single dad, small romance, I am soooo here. Mabel and Ginger's relationship also healed something in me that I didn't even realize was broken. This book did not disappoint me; it was incredibly spicy, and I do have to say that this might be my favorite in the entire series. I also really, really, really enjoyed getting to see the glimpses of all the other characters throughout this story. I love this about these series! I cannot wait for the fourth book, and I am so lucky I got the chance to read and review a copy early.

Fun read with lots of spice and good tropes. I was excited to read Cole and Ginger's story and it was really enjoyable.

3.5, rounded up to 4.
Cole and Ginger, longtime friends, get drunkenly married in Vegas. They decide to stay married and keep the wedding a secret to avoid scandal—Cole is the newly elected sheriff, and Ginger’s dad is up for reelection. Ginger agrees to help out with Cole’s daughter for the summer while they try to keep their secret from their families and the small-town gossips.

Overall, this was a very cute, cowboy-adjacent small-town romance. Could they have better communication skills for two successful adults? Definitely. I loved the epilogue, and the ongoing fight over baseball teams was a fun, lighthearted detail that made me chuckle. I think I liked the other books in the series a bit more, but I’m still looking forward to the next installments and meeting some new characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy!

it’s always been cole for ginger. but what she doesn’t know is that it’s always been ginger for cole too. what happens in vegas doesn’t stay in vegas in this small town single dad romance you just won’t be able to get enough of!

i love silver pines ranch! law daddy’s love confession had me internally screaming. everyone deserves a cole ashby! mabel and ginger’s relationship made this book even more enjoyable. ((these cowboy single dads really do it for me… daddy cade..)) no third act break up!!!!!

ginger danforth is a hell of a lady. her standing up for what she believes in, herself, is inspiring and what i strive to be like!! i can’t wait to jump back into silver lines ranch hopefully sooner rather than later and get to know more fierce fmcs and sexy broody mmcs.

Obsessed. This book is so great!

The pacing is perfect/ I loved the relationship and growth for Cole and Ginger and the spice- yess

100/10. No other notes

Cole and Ginger have been my favorite couple to date in this series!!

The tension!!! 4.5⭐'s

Riding the high is my first book into the Silver Pine universe..... and I throughly enjoyed it from begging to end. Full disclaimer, I have not read the first two books in the series, which in the beggining made it a bit difficult to identify the characters and their relationships with one another. However, it did not take long to fall in love with the whole lot of them.

This was such a fun read! I loved the banter within the group, especially Ginger and Cole. Ginger's relationship with Mabel gets a gold star from me. The way Cole and Ginger let the other fight their own battles while still standing on the sidelines just in case they need it. 🥰

The chemistry between Ginger and Cole was off the charts. I mean, Cole dares her to get married to him in Vegas, after a night of drinking, when he has literally been pinning for her for years. I love than when they start talking about getting a divorce Cole comes up with excuses as to why it would be best if they didn't, at least for a while. The "it's always been you, but I don't want to ruin our friendship because you're my best friend" trope gets me every time. And in case you were wondering..... the spice is spicing with this one.

Such a fun, best friend's borther, accidental marriage, spicy read!

3 1/2 Stars

Ginger and Cole's story was very cute and spicy! I do love a spicy romance, but I have to be honest that at times I felt like the spice seemed out of place and just ever so slightly detracting from the story. With that being said, I loved Ginger and Cole's backstory, and their chemistry, and I absolutely loved little Mabel.

Ⓣⓡⓞⓟⓔⓢ
🎀 accidental/secret marriage
🎀single dad
🎀best friends brother
🎀secret friends to lovers
🎀forced proximity
🎀nanny

Overall, this was a cute, fun, read with LOTS of spice.

Thank you to Dell Romance and NetGalley for the this eARC.

If I'm being honest, this is probably a 3.75 rating but rounded up to a 4. This was definitely my least favorite of the three books so far, but that doesn't really mean much since I basically gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed this one! There were a few things I wasn't a fan of, but I liked it for the most part.

I was excited to see Cole and Ginger's story come to fruition after seeing them in the first two books. Friends to lovers is probably my favorite trope, so I was pumped about these two and their "friendship." Of course, we still get to see all the gang from the first two books which was a blast and added to my enjoyment.

I think one of my biggest issues with the book was the fact that we weren't present for Ginger and Cole's first time. I don't understand why authors choose to omit key intimate scenes for a couple when they include raunchy scenes down the line. If the rest of your books is going to be wide open door, why do you make the first intimate moment between our two main characters closed door?

I understand if the characters can't even remember it themselves, but Cole and Ginger remember most of their night together even though they are drunk. In the past, I have dnfed books for keeping us in the dark in regards to this experience the two characters have together. I decided not to dnf because I was enjoying the characters and this is book 3 in a series I have been enjoying.

I'm super excited about the next book coming out at the end of the year and will be reading it asap!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed how well Cole and Ginger communicated throughout the story. It was refreshing to see them navigate challenges without falling into the typical third-act breakup. Their banter was charming, and the bond between Ginger and Mabel was absolutely adorable! Overall, this book was a fun and heartwarming read

However, I couldn't quite give it a solid 4 stars. One thing that bothered me was the way both characters claimed to have feelings for each other for years, yet still slept around during that time. I feel like there wasn't a solid reason why they couldn't get together. I also wish we had seen more of Ginger in her role as a teacher, since it was mentioned pretty much throughout the whole series.

I did appreciate that Cole and Ginger had a friendship independent of his sister and their shared friend group, but I wish we got more scenes from that time.

Still, I loved watching Ginger and Mabel’s relationship grow. Some authors struggle with writing believable trust-building between a child and a potential stepparent in single-parent romances, but this one nailed it! Seeing the three of them come together and form a family was sweet and heartwarming.

Riding the High, by Paisley Hope
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️

Hear me out- a sheriff x teacher /single dad x nanny romance with Brooklyn 99 references, small town drama, ghost pepper spice and an accidental Vegas marriage. Have I sold you on it yet??

Before I was even a quarter of the way through Holding the Reins, I knew I’d be craving Cole Ashby and Ginger Danforth’s story. Their supposed frenemies vibes and shameless banter made for a scrumptious secret friends to lovers romance.

After devouring Holding the Reins, Training the Heart and Riding the High within 4 days, I can confidently assert that Paisley Hope knows how to write the most incredible FMC’s. Each woman has been a spitfire of confidence and sensuality, and I will always adore a girl’s girl. And Ginger has me wrapped around her curls. While we saw her bolder side in previous books, I loved the softer moments we saw of her in RTH- especially when it came to her relationship with Mabel. Honestly I think I loved their connection as much as I loved Vixen & Law Daddy.

Speaking of Law Daddy… I’ve never wanted to be arrested but dang he makes handcuffs sound mighty appealing. Honestly I still can’t stop thinking about him during the wedding reception because WOW🥵🥵🥵

I giggled, my jaw hit the floor, and I was very easily inspired to prioritize immediate bonding time with my own Mr. Always Ready. This book was definitely an enjoyable addition to the series, and I’m already counting down the days to return to Laurel Creek for book 4!

Tropes:
•Accidental Marriage
•Single Dad x Nanny
•Best Friend’s Brother
•Found Family
•Sheriff x Teacher
•(Secret) Friends to Lovers
•She handcuffs him

Do I need to lie down? Possibly. Was it because of Sheriff Cole and his mouth? Absolutely.

Riding the High is a deliciously spicy friends-to-lovers romance that had me swooning, blushing, and whispering “he really said that" every few chapters. Ginger and Cole’s chemistry is off the charts, and the banter? Top tier. I love when characters clearly know each other, and watching them toe the line between friendship and something much steamier gave me all the feels.

There’s a surprising amount of heart in this one, too. I adored Ginger’s bond with Mabel—it gave the story extra heart and grounded her in such a sweet, real way. But let’s be honest: this is Cole’s world, and we’re all just thirsting in it. He’s a sheriff with a filthy mouth and a surprisingly romantic streak, and it WORKS.

If I had one small wish, it’s that a few of the emotional beats between Cole and Ginger had a little more space to breathe—I wanted just a smidge more unpacking to match the intensity of the heat. But overall? This was a super fun, sexy ride through a small town I wouldn’t mind getting stuck in.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC—I’ll be thinking about that "g" brand for a while 👀🔥

I have been waiting for Cole & Ginger’s book and it did not disappoint! Paisley Hope can honestly do no wrong in my eyes.
I loved how we finally got to see the secret friendship that Cole and Ginger had developed so many years ago. They were always there for each other and had such a solid friendship. They both have such strong personalities that the banter was hilarious but also full of tension.
Cole and Ginger find themselves married after one too many drinks while out in Vegas. They have to keep their marriage hidden to protect their reputations but it only pushes their feelings to the surface. This leads to the most epic f-it moment!
I thought Wade had a filthy mouth but enter Sheriff Cole Ashby 😮‍💨 Cole and Ginger have amazing chemistry. I love how Ginger not only fell in love with Cole, but also his daughter, Mabel. When he calls them “daddy’s girls” I just melted!
I just love this series and I can’t wait to go back to Silver Pines for Haden and Cassie!

Riding the High | Paisley Hope | Sliver Pines book 3 | 5•6•25
✨best friend’s brother
✨secret friend’s to lovers
✨single dad
✨accidental/secret marriage
✨secret pining
✨forced proximity

Thank you Paisley Hope & Dell for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

I enjoy this series so much. If I give a romance three stars, that is a very good thing. I have enjoyed the world Hope has created! It is so fun to read these. The only reason this is a 3.0 and not a 3.5 stars is the sexual content by the third book is pretty redundant. It's the same that we have read with the first two stories, the dialogue is almost the exact same as book one and two, so that was kind of boring. I liked the story around the sexual content, so I would love to continue the series whenever access to the fourth book is available!

Oh my goodness! Infinity stars to Ms. Paisley Hope and the amazing story of Cole and Ginger!

I was so excited and honored to have the opportunity to ARC read this book and I loved every second of it!

This story follows Cole "Law Daddy" Ashby, the new sheriff of Laurel Creek and the eldest sibling of CeCe and Wade Ashby who's family owns the Silver Pines Ranch. Cole has always been a bit of a player who since his terrible marriage, where the only thing good that came out of it was his daughter Mabel, has not wanted to commit to anyone. He is known to sleep around, but since being appointed sheriff he is determined to show the town that they made the right choice and make more responsible choices.

Ginger "Vixen" Danforth, is Cole's little sisters best friend and he has known her since they were kids. She is the daughter of a Kentucky congressman and elementary school teacher at the local school in Laurel Creek. She is a spit fire and wants to break free from the reputation that her family has put on her being a congressman's daughter.

After a weekend in Las Vegas, for Cece and Nash's bachelor/bachelorette party, Ginger and Cole play their long time game of truth or dare. After a few two many drinks, they wake up the next morning having gotten married in a Vegas chapel. Unable to get an immediate annulment, the two decide to stay married for 90 days in secret, until Gingers father is re-elected and Cole is out of his probationary period as the county sheriff.

When Ginger agrees to help Cole out with his 8 year old daughter over the summer and Ginger moves into Coles spare bedroom, the long time feelings for each other start to come to the surface and they start to forget that this marriage is meant to be temporary.

I was looking forward to this book since book one in the Silver Pines Ranch series. I just loved the little snippets Paisley gave us of Cole and Ginger so I was so happy to receive this book and it did not disappoint. This book is my new favorite in the series!

The banter between Ginger and Cole was amazing. I love a fiery FMC and Ginger is definitely that. She is not afraid to speak her mind and she definitely kept Cole on his toes. Cole is a single daddy, cop and sexy as hell! The connection between the two of them, having been long-time friends first made their relationship that much more intoxicating and fun to read.

I love all the side characters like Papa Dean and Mama Jo and the new ones that were introduced like Gingers parents and her Nonna (who had me cackling). But the character that took the cake for me was Mabel, Coles daughter. That girl has my heart!

This book made me laugh, swoon and cry and I cannot wait to see what Paisley Hope comes up with next in this series!

Read if you like:
-Single Dad
-Best friends brother
-Fiery FMC
-Forced proximity
-Secret marriage

Thank you, @authorpasileyhope and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC.