I absolutely loved the dynamic between Wade and Ivy. Her sunshine perfectly balanced his grumpy and helped him find a little sunshine within himself. Their day to day interactions—working together, watching movies together, the ice cream sundaes—really showed how their bond was formed beyond the insane physical attraction.

This may be a me thing but I also loved the glimpses we got into the horse racing world. I’m from an area that is full of old horse breeding and racing families, and I actually got a bit emotional right along with Ivy as her training progressed with Angel. I thought this aspect of the story was very well written.

And as for the spice—Paisley writes some top tier spice, and there is no denying it. The battle for dominance was beyond hot, and Wade is 10/10.

Finally, the Ashby family dynamic is still so good. Grandpa had me laughing. The Not-Angels welcomed Ivy with open arms. And I can’t wait for Cole to accept his match in book 3!

Loved this so so much!! There's truly nothing like a small town romance! I loved being back in this world

4.25/5

I was so excited going into this book after reading book 1 in the series, and it did not disappoint! The chemistry between Wade and Ivy was unmatched!! I love a good grumpy x sunshine and this this was phenomenal. The banter and tension between the two had me HOOKED. The spice was sooo good and didn’t take away from the plot at all, love when it’s done right.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series turns out.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

A grumpy cowboy… yes please 🥵 I absolutely ate this book up… paisley Hope can do no wrong, she’s slowly becoming one of my favs cause she writes the best MMCs. Can’t wait for what’s next.
Grateful to NetGalley for this ARC

"Call me whatever you want, Trouble. But I'm not worried one bit. I'm not betting on the horse. I'm betting on you."

Lawd have MERCY!! Training the Heart is HOT!

Wade is one hell of a rough and tough, filthy mouthed cowboy!
Ivy is a sweet and sassy horse trainer new to his ranch!

Wade is hell bent on love, but when Ivy arrives to the ranch looking for work, he can't look away! There's nothing sweeter than seeing a cowboy fall in love! I absolutely loved Wade and Ivy's story.

Read if you love:
*Cowboy Romance
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Forced Proximity
*Boss/Employee
*Spice and LOTS of it

The second installment in the Silver Pines Ranch series, Training the Heart tells the story of Wade, the gruff yet caring ranch owner, and Ivy, a resilient horse trainer healing from her past. Their chemistry is electric, blending tender moments of acts of service—like heartfelt movie nights—with fiery passion. Wade’s protective nature, Ivy’s spirited personality, and their undeniable connection make their romance both endearing and intense.

While many readers loved Wade’s “filthy yet sweet” duality and Ivy’s charm, some found the heavy focus on physical attraction repetitive. The book’s spice, though abundant, occasionally overshadowed emotional depth. However, heartfelt moments, like Wade supporting Ivy’s mom’s sobriety, added layers to their relationship.

Despite a few familiar tropes and plot similarities to the series’ first book, the story’s dual POV, small-town warmth, and dynamic characters keep it engaging. Fans of grumpy-sunshine romance and slow-burn tension will find much to enjoy.

“𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰𝒗𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒖𝒔...”

This was my first Paisley book, and I can single handedly say it will NOT be the last! I was not prepared for Wade Ashby AT ALL, and this broody, grumpy rancher surprised me in so many ways.

Wade is looking for a temporary horse trainer for his ranch. But what he never could have expected was the raven haired spitfire that is Ivy Spencer to turn his world upside down. Being her boss makes her off-limits, but will he be able to train his heart to rein in his temptations?

This story was so much fun, and Paisley did not hold back on the spice. I was entertained from start to finish and was sad when I read the last page because I never wanted their story to end. I loved the relationship these two have. Their chemistry was out of this world, their banter was nailed every time, and their growth together was solid and beautiful to see. Paisley does a great job of showing how much they care for one another, rather than just telling.

Ivy was an absolute breath of fresh air. She’s quick-witted, fiesty, and a go-with-the-flow kind of woman. I loved witnessing her growth with the love and support from the Silver Pines family behind her. She’s definitely a girls’ girl and one you want by your side.

Wade, on the other hand, is the type who takes care of business and always seems to have a solution for everything. But don’t let that fool you because this man’s love language is acts of service, and he does not hold back. And while he appears rough and gruff on the outside and sometimes soft and goey on the inside, this man is absolutely filthy! Some of the things coming out of his mouth had me fanning myself.

Now excuse me while I try to find the nearest ranch to call home.

📚 ARC Review 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
LIVE NOW!

The Silver Pines series strikes gold again with Training the Heart! This book absolutely shattered me (in the best way), and I’m not sure how to put into words just how much I adored Ivy and Wade’s story.

Let’s start with Wade—the man can do no wrong! From his grumpy exterior to the absolute devotion he shows Ivy, everything he did for her had me sobbing. His journey from routine-loving loner to a man ready to embrace love (and Ivy’s fiery spirit) was so beautifully written. And the way his family, the Ashbys, opened their arms to Ivy? Pure heart-melting perfection.
And Ivy—what a phenomenal heroine! Strong, independent, and determined, she’s the kind of character you instantly connect with. Her struggles were so real and relatable, and watching her find her place with the Not Angels and the Ashby family was incredibly satisfying.

Now, let’s talk about them—Ivy and Wade. Their chemistry? Explosive. Their banter? Top tier. Ivy didn’t back down from Wade’s grumpiness; she challenged him, pushed him, and brought out a side of him even he didn’t know existed. The push-and-pull dynamic between them was like a ticking time bomb, and when they finally ignited… let’s just say the heat level had me blushing more than once. 🥵

The spice? Immaculate. Every moment between them was so perfectly balanced with passion and emotion, it left me swooning (and maybe fanning myself).

This series has completely stolen my heart. I can't wait for Cole and Ginger’s story—I can already tell their banter will be off the charts!

Thank you Paisley Hope and NetGalley or allowing me to read an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Training the Heart is book two in the Silver Pines Ranch series by Paisley Hope.
I just love series! And I love a good cowboy romance!
This was such a fun read, both main characters were so full of spirit and fun.
This was an absolutely incredible read and Paisley never ceases to amaze me.
I hope to get approved from book three Riding the High!

✨ 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
🤠 cowboy romance
💜 forced proximity
🤠 road trip/only one bed
💜 surprise pregnancy
🤠 grumpy/sunshine
💜 no third act break up
🤠 lots of open door romance
💜 dual POV

𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗕: Wade pours his blood, sweat, & tears into his family’s ranch. After a failed marriage & the passing of his father, Wade keeps to himself & keeps his walls up high. That is until the beautiful, talented, & sassy Ivy begins working as horse trainer on his ranch. Ivy wanted a new start & found herself taking the leap to accept the horse trainer position at Silver Pines Ranch. Her approach to horses is very different than her grumpy boss’ approach, which causes some tension. Ivy gets to experience Wade’s nurturing side when she ends up getting hurt & Wade moves her into his house to keep an eye on her. These two didn’t stand a chance against the witty banter, the forced proximity, the mutual chemistry & attraction, & acts of service/grand gestures.

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: Wooo baby, Paisley sure turned the heat up high in this one & she’s got me sweating over here! I loved Wade’s grumpy (not really grumpy) self. Ivy had him wrapped around her finger from the moment she stepped foot onto his ranch. Ivy is so sassy & feisty & I am here for it! I just want to hop on a horse, take a trail ride with her, & talk to her about books. There’s just something about the peace that these two find in each other in the calm moments that had me smiling from ear to ear!

Oh my GOD!!!! If I could give this a MILLION STARS I WOULD !!! I freaking LOVED THIS! I remember loving the first one in this series but this truly blew me AWAY!!!! There’s something so special about a grumpy man who falls head over heels for a broken girl regaining her life and strength back, and supporting her the whole way. I LOVED Wade and Ivy like SO much!! Easily will be one of my favorite books this year!! There was so much I loved about this book I feel like it’s going to be stuck in my head for a while. I applied for this arc on netGalley on whim and I’m SO happy I got the email. Huge huge thank you to paisley and her team, this was an damn good I don’t even have the worlds to describe it lol

4.25⭐ for me! We have Ivy, a horse trainer who is leaving a relationship with a narcissistic ex and comes to the ranch for an interview. She's a firecracker and her admitting the reason she was late for her interview let me know I would love her right off the bat! Then, there's her boss, Wade. Wade is loyal to those he loves to a fault but has a rough exterior after a toxic marriage and bearing the weight of everyone else on his shoulders. I was NOT ready for him. If there's one thing Paisley is top tier at, it's the filthy mouth on these men because sheeeeesh! And getting a tattoo on his hand that says "Mine" for when it's around her neck? Ummm... yes please! There was a ton of spice, but I loved the plot too. It touched on fertility, family member with addiction issues, grief, overcoming the trauma of narcissistic abuse (this did not take up a ton of the story but I liked how it was touched on and the actions were realistic. Wade is everything someone would want after going through that), but there was also so much joy and positivity.

This was the perfect cozy, spicy read. While I received it as an ARC, I did go on and buy the physical copy because I just adored it so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Omg, Wade Ashby. Do kiss your mother with that mouth? I knew he'd be filthy but good lord. No complaints though!

We first got a glimpse of Ivy in Holding the Reins, when she comes to the ranch to take over for Sam. I just loved her personality and spitfire, bratty self. She knew it grated on Wade and dammit it did! But he also loved it.

Wade and Ivy have both been hurt by their exes, and just can't seem to escape them. No boundaries with Brad and Janelle-i think those two need to run away together.
What Brad had done to Ivy was extremely disrespectful and the surprise her and Wade got with a baby was so cute.

Them both admitting to the feelings brewing over months was so sweet to see it unfold. They work so well together.

I fell in love with Paisley’s writing last year when I read her first book. I was thrilled when I was able to snag this arc on Netgalley.

This follows Wade and Ivy. Wade runs the family ranch and Ivy is the new horse trainer hired by the ranch. Wade is grumpy and growly and bossy, he has to be in control at all times. Ivy is sunshine and playful and LOVES to push Wade’s buttons and lives to make him lose control.

Read this if you like:
🏇🏽Cowboy romance
🏇🏽Grumpy/sunshine
🏇🏽Forced Proximity
🏇🏽Workplace romance
🏇🏽Family and found family
🏇🏽He will burn down the world for her

Wade Ashby’s love language is acts of service and the small ways he showed Ivy how much he loved her just made me melt, he dries her hair for her, he cooks for her, nightly ice cream and movie dates are just a few of them. I really loved the two of them together, their evolution from boss/employee to fling to lovers. I loved how they got to know each other and learned to trust after both had been hurt.

This one was super spicy 🥵 and I love a good spicy book, but I think I would’ve liked a little less spice. It kind of took away from the romance a bit, I wanted to see a bit more connection between them besides the spice.

I’m loving this series and I can’t wait for the next book. Thank you to Paisley Hope, Netgalley and Random House Publishing for my arc of this book.

*This book does deal with some heavy topics (emotional abuse, alcoholism, infidelity, infertility struggles) take care when reading.

5⭐️

I love me some grumpy x sunshine!!! Wade was such a grumpy man, but little did we know how filthy his mouth can be, *wink wink *. He was so obsessed with his girl even though he tried too hard to fight his feelings for her.

Ivy was such a fun character to read about . I was glad she was able to have her dreams come true no matter how hard they were. If anything, Wade and Ivy deserved to find happiness and love with each other after both of them being with people who manipulated them into thinking that was love just to find out it’s something far from it and what they both experience with each other is actually the real deal.🙌🏼

The chemistry was on fire, the love story was beautiful, and all the characters were fun to read about.

Overall, it was a fun book to read and should be added to your TBR!!! ✨🙌🏼

Training the Heart is a swoony, heartwarming ever endearing love story.
Which will have you laughing for one moment and then clutching your pearls the next.
It was so worth the wait to read this book.

Training the Heart by Paisley Hope
5⭐️ Wade Ashby….people of bookstagram….good lord 🥵 Wade was soooooooo hot, Ginger was right, Wade is BDE personified hahahah. He’s genuinely such a good man. I love when dudes are absolute gruff, closed off alphaholes who are soft and gooey for their partner 💕 Ivy, a woman after my own heart with her spicy books 😂 I loved how she was so soft and cared so much for her mom, even when she struggled. Ivy and Wade just gravitated to each other over and over again, and everyone saw it but them. This really was a story of opening your heart because it’s worth the risk to fall in love with the person who lights up your life. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE EPILOGUE!!!!!! Paisley hit us with the extendo-epilogue, which I am eternally thankful for 🙏🏼 this series was a random find for me, but quickly captured my heart and ooooohweeeee I can’t wait for Ginger and Cole to freak it 🤠 thank you to Paisley and NetGalley for this ARC, I loved this story so very much! 🖤

This was such a fun and sweet cowboy romance! Wade is one of the grumpiest MMCs I've ever read, and I loved reading about him falling all over for himself for Ivy. The two were just so perfectly made for each other and their chemistry was off the charts. The man was so possessive and OTT for her! While I did like the first book more, this one is just as charming and entertaining. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes, Cole and Ginger are going to be so chaotic and lively🤭

Dead. Dying. Deceased. This was insanely good! There was not a single thing in this book that fell flat. The relationship, the friendships, the humor, the spice… all perfection. While reading this I actively updated my goodreads with updates of my favorite quotes (I’ll put them at the bottom of this review) because there were some GOOD ones here. This was highly emotional read for me due to the subject matter, but it was so beautiful and well written. I even messaged the author throughout the read and expressed how I had to take a breather and touch grass frequently during their first spicy encounter. It was insane. I will most definitely be giving this series a re-read once they are all out & hope to have the honor to ARC read the rest of the series!

this book is easily my favorite thing I read in 2024 and something YOU need to pick up immediately.

paisley hope you deserve a round of applause for creating one of my favorite fictional men.

5 chapters in, I was already obsessed with the main characters and that feeling never faded away. from the tension and banter of ivy and wade, to amazing side characters and a great plot, this book has everything you need.

the one thing I was not prepared for was the spice. all I can say is lives were changed and I need to find a wade immediately.

the way I know a book is going to stick with me is the moment I feel excited to start making edits and aesthetics of it. this was my first paisley hope book and it won’t be my last.