I absolutely loved this book and Paisely’s writing and her writing style. The flow was great. The story truly sucked you in and keeper you interested the entire time and needing to know more. I fell in love with all the characters as well. I highly recommend this author and will be reading more books by her in the future

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I have now read two books by this author, and this one is taking the cake now. Grumpy sunshine trope is an easy one to keep me invested. I sometimes struggle with enjoying the boss/employee trope but this was really well done and SPICY tension. I'd definitely add forced proximity to the trope mix. Definitely VERY spicy, on my scale I'd say 4 out of 5. Open door scenes are plenty but there is still a plot to follow. Definitely recommend and can't wait to read more by the author!

loved the setting of this story as I grew up in ky. Loved the research that went into making the horse racing aspect and loved the storyline. Felt like there was consistent spice from the beginning and not much build up but enjoyed it!

Did someone order a broody, morally gray cowboy with a hand necklace kink?! Because look no further than Wade Ashby!

This is a grumpy x sunshine, cowboy, workplace romance featuring Wade Ashby (head of the farmer) and Ivy Spencer (his new trainer). Wade reluctantly hires Ivy, and she convinces him (or perhaps his jealousy does) to make a run for the Kentucky Derby. Which of course means, some forced proximity and a one bed situation edging the pot of yearning and tension to boil over.

The spice in this book is SPICING, and the jokes had me CACKLING! However, the plot in this one had some major plot holes (like not including the Horace racing or even the Kentucky Derby) and it DRAGGED on in the middle. With that being said, I have a lot of mixed feelings about how to rate this book.

Thank you Net Galley for my free copy in exchange for a honest review.

I really tried. I tried so hard to love this because I‘m such a sucker for a good cowboy book and I‘m honestly pretty sure that this is a good book and an amazing universe but something just didn’t click for me. Maybe the writing style? Maybe the characters? I don‘t know what didn’t work for me but I‘m kinda sad that it didn’t

I will forever and always be bowing down to the altar of Paisley Hope because ARE YOU KIDDING ME right now?!?! I'm not even exaggerating when I say I might never recover from the man that is Wade Ashby. Never. Gruff and grumpy cowboys/ranchers are basically my kryptonite but something about that man just hit different. I was kicking my feet like crazy as the tension built between Wade and Ivy, then a melted puddle on the floor once it snapped and they caved to temptation. When I tell you the spice was off the charts between those two..... oh my.

I'm admittingly a fan of P.H. so I knew going into this one that it'd be a good read for me, but it's officially cemented itself into my bookish hall of fame. I loved it that much. I loved how sassy and tenacious Ivy was. I loved how hard Wade supported her and stood up for her—stood beside her. I'll always root for the MMC who knows when to step in front of his woman to shield her and when to step aside to let her loose and handle business.

If you love small town romance with filthy mouthed cowboys, found family vibes, dislike to lovers, boss/employee dynamics, forced proximity, etc. don't do what I did and let life get in the way of immediately reading this. If I could go back and read it for the first time again I 100% would.

A million thank you's to the author and Dell Romance for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I'm off to go buy 10 trophy copies to put on my shelves.

I have to say that I didn't finish the book because I couldn't get along with the writing style. I didn't really find the characters interesting or likable. Right from the start our FMC was sexualized by all the male characters.

Even the start wasn't successful for me because the FMC shows up for a job interview and acts extremely unprofessional even though she really needs the job.
But I seem to be in the minority with my opinion, so who knows.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun and sweet. Paisley Hope is one of my new favorite small town romance authors. Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and she writes it SO well. I cannot wait to read her next one. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I loved Ivy, but Wade irritated the hell out of me. I like their dynamic, but was unimpressed with how the whole "infertility" arc basically ended up being because her ex paid his doctor to lie to her. It was really weird.

A fun and sweet cowboy romance. The characters had wonderful chemistry and their dynamic was endearing. I truly loved reading this book

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

An extra grumpy ranch owner and a sunshiny horse trainer - Yes please! I loved the dynamics of the MCs and all their interactions, it’s heavy on the spice but there is plenty of story also. I love all the little things in this book. This ranch is a giant family and it sucks you right in, I love the girl gang and need more! This is book two in then Silver Pines Ranch Series but can be read as a standalone.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Ivy loves horses and has been around them since she was a girl, she’s worked hard to get where she is and her dream is to train a Derby Horse. She just took a new job at the Silver Pines Ranch as their new resident horse trainer. She has a lot going on in her personal life but hoping this new job will be a fresh start she needs.

Wade is a super grumpy rancher, he’s had a lot of responsibility thrust on him after the death of his father and it’s only made him worse. He just hired a new horse trainer and he is in over his head as she is the prettiest thing he’s ever seen, but she’s off limits as his employee.

But forced proximity: working together to select a horse then train it over the next 18 months to make a derby run will push these two in many ways to their limits.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“To bosses that forgive me for barging in on their half-naked asses, deliver me first aid and fulfill a sort of superhero fantasy by then fixing my power?”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Resident Horse Trainer FMC
* Divorced Extra Grumpy Rancher MMC
* He’s 34 and She’s 29
* He’s the Boss of the Ranch
* Training a Horse for a Derby Run - Angel’s Wings
* She’s Starting Over - Escaping Controlling Relationship
* Roomies - Forced Proximity - One Bed
* Found Family- Silver Pines Ranch, Kentucky
* Dual POV w/ Spice

🐎💜🤠🪻🐎💜🤠🪻🐎💜🤠🪻

This was a good book, don't get my wrong. However, I much preferred the first one to this book. I felt like this whole book was just lust and no connection between the characters. Where as the previous book has depth to the characters. I still will be reading the rest of the series.

Paisley Hope can do absolutely no wrong in my book! I absolutely devoured this book. This entire series is just outstanding. Wade and Ivy’s banter was top tier. The spice was even better. I loved reading about their relationship grow into something wholesome and genuine. Wade was so broody with a bruised heart, but feisty ivy brought him back to life! On to book 3!

Tropes:
Accidental pregnancy
Dual pov
Forced proximity
Spice
Small town
Grumpy x sunshine
Workplace romance

I have loved this series! I was truly love the Grumpy sunshine trope. She did such an amazing job with these characters and their story. You fell in love with them and could not put it down. The angst and the dang spice was phenomenal! I cannot wait to read more.

I love a good cowboy romance and have been enjoying the silver pines ranch series! I love this world and the characters. Can’t wait to read more!!!

Book 2 in the Silver Pines series is deliciously hot and steamy! Wade and Ivy absolutely set the pages on fire, but what makes this book stand out is its depth. Alongside the sizzling romance, Training the Heart dives into heavier themes like infertility, addiction, and emotional abuse, making it an emotional rollercoaster in the best way.

Tropes You’ll Love:✔ Grumpy/Sunshine✔ Workplace Romance✔ One hotel room/One bed✔ Age Gap✔ Found Family

What I Loved:🔥 The chemistry between Wade and Ivy? Off the charts! Their connection is both passionate and deeply emotional.💔 The way Paisley Hope handled the heavier topics was raw, real, and beautifully written.🏡 The found family dynamic added so much warmth and heart to the story.

The Only Downside? Okay, I have to admit—Wade’s overuse of his pet name for Ivy gave me the ick a little (but that’s totally a me-problem!).

This book gets a solid 4 stars from me, and I’ve officially fallen in love with Paisley Hope’s writing. Important reminder: This book is intended for 18+ readers! If you love a romance that brings the heat and the heart, Training the Heart is a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Definitely an adult romance book. Sometime those scenes were a little overpowering within the book. Overall I enjoyed. Two people both scorned by previous exes have now found each other and received their happily ever after.

Training Your Heart was a charming and emotional romance that blends love, personal growth, and second chances! truly a delightful read that leaves you believing in the power of love and self-discovery!

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin for an advanced reader's copy of Training the Heart by Paisley Hope! This book is perfect for fans of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage, or any horse girls looking for a fun and steamy romance 💖

We previously met Wade in Holding the Reins, the first book in the Silver Pines series. He is Cece's older brother, responsible for the ranch, their horses and the training program. He has hired Ivy, a horse trainer, to help him achieve his father's dream of running a horse in the Kentucky Derby. When Ivy and Wade have to navigate intense attraction for each other while cohabiting due to Ivy's sprained ankle, sparks fly.

As a horsewoman of 20+ years, there were of course some phrases and language use I spotted that weren't entirely accurate (for example: Ivy's entire horse background does not really make any sense for raising and training a Thoroughbred for the Derby, nor does Wade owning a lesson & board facility equate to a facility that is capable of training a racehorse) BUT regardless, it was a delightful read that helped fill the void of Chestnut Springs. The writing itself is also a bit weak and underdeveloped in places, particularly when it comes to dialogue, but I have high hopes for Paisley Hope as an author and I've enjoyed what I've read so far!

Overall - 4 ⭐️
Plot - 3.5 ⭐️
Setting - 4.25 ⭐️
Characters - 4 ⭐️
Character Development - 4⭐️
Writing - 3 ⭐️

⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

PROS:
*hot cowboy
*he takes care of her (but only when she needs it)
*grumpy/sunshine

CONS:
*that discussion of her MLK tattoo in such a crass setting, I just cannot with that
*uneven pacing

Overall, an OK read, but not my favorite cowboy romance.