With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of publication. 

In the third Silver Pines book we follow Cole Ashby, newly elected sheriff and devoted single dad to the adorable Mabel, and Ginger Danforth, best friend to Cole’s sister and daughter of a Kentucky congressman. When a drunken night in Vegas ends in a wedding chapel, the two strike a deal to stay married until Ginger’s father is re-elected and Cole’s probationary period comes to and end. But as both struggle to hide their feelings, their accidental marriage starts to feel very real. 

This series just continues to get better and better. Having seen a few hints to Cole and Ginger’s relationship in previous books, I wasn’t quite sure how their story would work but I have to say I absolutely loved it. 

The absolute highlight for me was the friendship that Ginger and Cole had. It was deep and it was true and I loved the interweaving of past and present to really show how this developed into a strong base for a relationship. Yes there are a few standard romance tropes in the book (e.g. some miscommunication) but above all, Ginger and Cole (and their relationship) felt real. I was rooting for them from the start. 

The book is of course not just about Cole and Ginger but also Mabel, Cole’s daughter. With Mabel we saw both her bright personality and her fears and I was so please to see such a strong relationship between daughter and daddy, but also the development of a really healthy stepmother-stepdaughter relationship between Ginger and Mabel. I genuinely couldn’t get enough of the three of them. 

A fantastic addition to the series for fans of: small town romance, friends to loves, best friend’s brother, single dad, and secret marriage. I haven’t stopped smiling about this book since finishing it.