Sneak Peek: Riding the High by Paisley Hope
ON OUR BOOKSHELF
Riding the High
by Paisley Hope
The third installation of the Silver Pines series — it may be my favorite yet.
I just knew after meeting Cole and Ginger in Holding the Reins (Amazon) that there was so much more to these characters and their interactions. And I knew that they would be my favorite couple in this series. Heck, I breezed through the other books (even though I enjoyed them) because I was so desperate to read this romance.
If you’re looking to slow down and smell the roses, this book is for you. And once you’ve savored it, go back and read the rest of the series.
I am so grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of Riding the High via NetGalley! I was not patient enough to wait for the release, so I’m counting my lucky stars.
The Sneak Peek
Sometimes your person is the one who has always showed up. The person who sat on the bleachers for your football games, or the person who dropped whatever they were doing to pick you up from a party. Maybe your person is the one who longingly watched you from across the room at gatherings, or stayed up late with you after a rough first day.
Cole and Ginger have known each other since childhood. She was his little sister’s best friend and he had always been her dream guy. Through the years they became friends… maybe even the best of friends. Until a game of truth or dare changed their relationship…
And when Cole finds himself in need of childcare support over summer break, and Ginger just happens to be available, what better way to hide their new relationship but under the guise of a live-in nanny situation? But as they spend more and more time under the same roof, Cole and Ginger realize that maybe their relationship was always meant to evolve and that their friendship was laying the groundwork for something more.
What Victoria Loved
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
I feel like I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. The sexy single dad who is head over heels for his kid(s)? Swooooooon! BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE. This sibling’s best friend turned his best friend turned accidental wedding / forced proximity is so cute, heartwarming and hands down steamy. But the kicker? It’s the unraveling of their relationship, peeling back the layers to understand who they are, and how that is portrayed in the series’ earlier books…
I mean, what would you do if you were in love with your sibling’s best friend, but life got in the way? Would you keep them at arm's length? Would you take what you could get and settle for being their best friend? Would you pine away too afraid of risking your friendship?
I don’t know what I would do. But I do think there’s something so beautifully terrifying about taking that step from friendship to romantic relationship. I strongly believe that the key to a strong romantic relationship is a strong friendship, and that’s what Cole and Ginger have. I love that through the years, Cole and Ginger were able to build a friendship. Something that was just theirs that they were able to nurture in private. They were there for each other when they needed it — those quiet, easy evenings when they were able to make memories, where they found safety and built trust, where they learned they could rely on each other while finding strength within themselves. I loved that they could hold onto this secret friendship without the influence or pressure from other people, without really even hiding it.
I can’t get over it. I think some might hold that secrecy against them, but I think it’s what I loved the most about their relationship. It was just theirs until they were ready to share it with the world. And even then, they protected each other. While I love an HEA, I don’t always feel that the foundation between MCs is enough to keep them together forever. But in this case, Cole and Ginger are lifers. They’ve got forever written all over them, and it’s only emphasized by how wonderful Ginger is with Mabel. A little happy family.
This was my peloton book (and that’s exactly what it sounds like: it’s the book I was reading while I was pedaling). Needless to say I set some ridiculous PRs because I didn’t want to get off the bike, I was so desperate to keep reading… and I was so into the book I didn’t realize how hard I was pedaling. In the end, this book gave me a bit of a book hangover. And it just made me crave summer.
I’ll be rereading this in the warmer weather.
Pre-order your copy of Riding the High (Amazon) and read with me!
Favorite Scene
“It’s been you for so fucking long, Ginger.,, you’re the baseline I compared every woman to. You’re the one I sought. I sought your attention, your sass, your fucking beautiful smile. Always.”
- RIDING THE HIGH by Paisley Hope
Similar Reads & Recommendations
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! This second chance romance brings two college sweethearts back together on a work trip to Vegas. And when their night takes a turn, well… what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. And for the sake of both their careers, it’s in their best interest to go with the flow. But that means spending more time together and going on a honeymoon. Sarah carefully peels back the layers on Mackenzie and Derek’s love story in a way that made my heart ache and convinced me that love will always find a way.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
A FRIEND TURNED NANNY: Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage (Amazon)
Book #1 of this series was an HoH Book Club pick! But similarly to Riding the High, this is the book in the RBR series that I was looking forward to the most. Through the first two books, Lyla has hinted at a long history of fiery exchanges between Gus and Teddy. Everyone in the family (heck, the town!) knows that those two can’t be left in the same room together. And I’m sure you can imagine the outcome… You don’t need to read this series in order, so if you want to jump straight to Book #3, you can read my full Sneak Peek.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
A NANNY, A SINGLE DAD AND A HOT TUB: Mr. Masters (Mr. Series #1) by TL Swan (Amazon)
Forced proximity, age-gap alpha-hole MMC and two spoiled children who will end up melting your heart. This story had me on the edge of my seat, anxious that the main characters were going to be caught at every turn… guess that’s what happens when you’re not supposed to fall for your employer / employee, but you’re stuck sharing a home.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU: Powerless (Chestnut Springs #3) by Elsie Silver (Amazon)
A childhood friends-to-lovers romance that brings together a hockey player and a ballerina. Although their friendship was never a secret, they did drift apart as they got older. But when Sloane suddenly finds herself unable to walk down the aisle, Jasper (the man she’s secretly loved her entire life) is there to rescue her. I’m a fan of this entire series (so you can start from Book 1), but this stand-alone was a cute one! There’s mutual pining and that courageous jump from friends to something more.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
BY THE AUTHOR:
Holding the Reins (Silver Pines Ranch #1) by Paisley Hope (Amazon)
Buckle up — the first couple of pages will have you laughing out loud. And then you can just enjoy the ride as you’ll fall for the charm of Silver Pines, the hotness that is Nash (who is a retired hockey player turned local business owner and naturally, the most eligible bachelor who just happens to be in love with his best friend’s little sister), and the chaos of the Ashby family. This workplace / neighbor romance features a good amount of sneaking around and some VERY steamy scenes. Don’t let the cute cover fool you! The banter, dirty talk and tension are off the charts.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Training the Heart (Silver Pines Ranch #2) by Paisley Hope (Amazon)
I love a grumpy rancher / cowboy and a bratty FMC who can give as good as she can take (in and out of the bedroom). Mix that in with some forced proximity and a one bed scenario and I AM ALL IN. This is a story built around healthy love — prioritizing yourself, your partner and the relationship that you’re building. But don’t let the cute cover and nice little meet cute fool you… this book is also filled with absolute juicy filthiness. However, as steamy as this book is, I loved the little moments where the characters slowly got to know each other and realized how much they have in common from their pasts to their favorite movies and midnight snacks. All around it’s a feel-good story with a lottttta spice, while tackling some tough backstory.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
