REVIEW: Riding the High by Paisley Hope

Riding the High by Paisley Hope: What happens in Vegas… doesn’t always stay there. Ginger Danforth is used to playing it safe. As the daughter of a powerful congressman and a beloved elementary school teacher in Laurel Creek, she’s spent her life following the rules and colouring inside the lines. But one spontaneous girls’ trip to Las Vegas and one too many cocktails, leads to a night she never expected; waking up married to the town’s charming, off-limits sheriff who also happens to be her best friend…

Cole Ashby didn’t mean to marry his best friend. But the moment he sees the ring on Ginger’s finger, he knows one thing for sure; he doesn’t want to let her go. As a single dad with a busy job and a mischievous daughter, the last thing he planned for was a secret marriage… or the fact that playing house with Ginger feels more right than anything ever has. As the lines between fake and forever blur, Ginger and Cole must decide if their accidental “I do” is just a temporary detour or the beginning of their happily ever after…

I just adored this book to bits, there is just something about a small town romance that gets me every time and that is definitely the case with Riding The High. From the very first page, Riding The High will sweep you into a whirlwind of unexpected romance, laugh out loud moments and heartfelt vulnerability. Hope delivers a fresh take on the friends to lovers trope with a wild Vegas twist, crafting a story that feels both escapist and emotionally grounded.

Ginger is the kind of heroine who wins you over from the start. Polished, composed and always in control, she’s spent her life living up to the high expectations of her politically powerful family. But beneath that well-manicured exterior is a girl that just wants a bit of freedom, the chance to make her own choices and finally live life on her own terms. This just made me love getting to see her let her hair down and have one wild crazy night in Vegas. I really enjoyed getting to see her face her family head on and dealing with the fall out of her one carefree moment, we really get to see Ginger embrace being her own person here and doing what makes her happy even if it is a bit messy. Now let talk about our charming town sheriff and hero, Cole. Cole is just the guy we all love and want to be around, he is charming, rugged, great with kids. While he does have a bit of a reputation for being a charmer and heartbreaker, there is no denying that he is also an incredible father. Mabel is his entire world and his love for this little girl is just beautiful to see. While his accidental marriage to Ginger catches him off guard at first, it doesn’t take him long to realise that Ginger is the best thing to happen to him, and our guy is ready to fight his case.

Ginger and Cole’s romance is the perfect blend of accidental chaos and slow-burn tenderness, wrapped in small-town charm and sizzling chemistry. I just loved seeing them try to navigate the awkwardness of their secret marriage, their new shared responsibilities and these new feelings bubbling up. I really loved the slow build up to their connection, there were no big insta love moments for this couple, but rather the small more quiet moments that got to them and I really loved seeing this unfold.

I have to take a moment to talk about sweet Mabel. Mabel wasn’t just a hoot to get to know but she really is the key factor that helped bring Ginger and Cole together. I just loved getting to see her relationship with Ginger grow from this cautious could be friends to a deep and loving bond. Also I just ate up all the Mabel and Cole moments, there really is something so cute about a single dad loving his baby.

Riding The High was the perfect combination of humour, heart, slow burn heat and really just a beautiful story of finding love in the most unexpected of ways. A total must read book for me!

Book Info:

Publication: May 6, 2025 | Dell | Silver Pines Ranch #3

Her heart is wild. Only he can capture it.

When Cole Ashby is appointed Laurel Creek’s sheriff, he is determined to prove to the town, his family, and most importantly to himself that he’s the responsible choice for the job. A devoted single dad, his main goal is to lay steady roots for his young daughter.

As the daughter of a Kentucky congressman, elementary school teacher Ginger Danforth’s life has always been about neat appearances. But inside she’s dying to break free from the restraints of reputation and embrace the sense of adventure that runs through her veins.

When the Laurel Creek crew heads to Las Vegas for a weekend away, long-time friends Ginger and Cole play a game of truth or dare and, after a few too many drinks, wake up the next morning having exchanged marriage vows in a Vegas chapel.

With no chance of an immediate annulment, the two make a stay married for ninety days in secret, until Ginger’s father is re-elected and Cole is out of his probationary period as county sheriff.

But when Ginger agrees to help watch Cole’s daughter for the summer and the pair are forced to spend an increasing amount of time in each other’s company, riding the high of their accidental marriage, the more it begins to feel real. Until they start to forget their marriage was ever meant to be temporary. . .