Obsessed. Actually obsessed. The dynamic between Wade & Ivy is *chef’s kiss*. Oh I love them. Wade is the grumpiest and has quite a mouth on him…my favorite type of MMC! Ivy dishes back just as good as she gets, and pushes this broody man to open up. I absolutely loved being back at Silver Pines, and enjoyed every second of this one! I loved getting to see the rest of the Not Angels and the Ashby fam too! Just perfect!

3.5 stars.

If you like the grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, or cowboy romance tropes, you're going to be eating gooooooood with Paisley Hope's "Training the Heart." This book is spiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicy, y'all! Like, waaaaaaaaaaaaaay spicy! You'll eat it up. Wade and Ivy are a great couple, and I loved reading about them. They have excellent banter with one another. Ivy is always challenging Wade and his set-in ways. I loved Wade's filthy, filthy mouth and his grumpy disposition! I also love the leaps and bounds Icy makes to become a better, more independent and confident person after facing abus3 at the hands of her ex. It felt a little insta-love-y at first, so I was worried, but it's not that bad. I did not love the ending, but for these characters, I guess it makes sense what happens. It feels like it wraps up much too quickly, though? A lot of time is spend on the middle of the story, but not so much on the end. I rolled my eyes at some of the dialogue, too. I cannot verify how accurate the horse and horse training stuff is, so I just had to go with it and assume it was all accurate, lol. I'd still suggest this book to most people because *insert gif here* cowboys are soOoOoOo hot right now, but I probably wouldn't re-read it or feel compelled to purchase it. It's still good, though!

Thank you to NetGalley, Paisley Hope, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

4.5 ⭐️
Grumpy cowboy: my absolute favorite.
Wade Ashby ladies.
This man is filthy.
The tattoo… I melted.

Ivy, the new horse trainer.
Sassy & independent.
He takes care of her in many ways.

Solid friend and family group.
Grumpy x sunshine
A few other fun tropes sprinkled in that I don’t want to spoil.
No third act breakup.
I liked them.

Thank you so much to @dellromance for an early copy of this book! Happy pub day on December 31st! 🥳

Aren’t we all kind of obsessed with cowboy romances rn? Because let me tell you, if you aren’t (or if you are), you should def try out this book! 🤠 Training the Heart is a fun cowboy romance that is SUPER SPICY 🌶️ but also really sweet and focuses on family and support (kind of like the family vibes in the Chestnut Springs series) and I love that this book really focuses on a relationship with SIZZLING chemistry but also a passion for ranching and trying to train a horse for the Kentucky Derby! Like there’s so many powerful moments emotionally, whether its’s about the main characters, their families, their pasts, or side characters, there’s constantly some sweet, sad, or powerful thing happening and that makes it a really fun read!

I had so much fun reading this book and am definitely interested in reading the other books in the series! And if you want to read this book (which is book 2 in the series) just know that you definitely can, even if you don’t read book one first because this series is a series of interconnected standalone books!

And, you know what they say, ride a horse! 🐎

3 1/2 stars

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted review copy. I was definitely excited to be back in the Silver Pines Ranch world because I really enjoyed the first book in this series and loved visiting with CeCe and Nash again.

Grumpy-sunshine is one of my favorite tropes so I loved how Paisley Hope used it here with Wade the grumpy rancher and Ivy the sassy, sunny horse trainer he hires and has to work with in close proximity. I enjoyed their banter and their chemistry and was an especially big fan of Wade when he goes into protective/caretaker/chef mode when Ivy sprains an ankle and needs a few days of TLC.

That said, this one was a little too spicy for me. I enjoy spicy romances but I like there to be a nice balance between the couple growing closer emotionally and those spicy, sexy fun scenes and this just tipped a little too far to the spicy side for me.

It was still a very solid read for me but just not quite as enjoyable as the first book in the series.

Things I loved:
He calls her Trouble
He takes care of her
Ice cream and m&ms
Post its
Scrunchies
She confides in him
Mercy
No third act breakup

I loved this book so much!!! Wade Ashby is a grumpy rancher and I was here for it. He was in denial of his feelings for Ivy but once he accepted it, he was all in. Ivy is a horse trainer, and I adored her character. I LOVED the plot of the book ❤️. Their chemistry is off the charts! This book is spicy and they could not keep their hands off each other. If you like cowboy romance with grumpy x sunshine and forced proximity you don’t want to miss out on this one!

5⭐️
2.5🌶️

- Grumpy x sunshine
- Forced proximity
- Man obsessed & in denial
- Road trip/one bed
- Strong FMC
- Spicy lessons
- Surprise twist/HEA
- Bossy rancher with a filthy mouth
- He leave her post-it’s
- Dual POV

I was so excited when I received my copy of Training the Heart! I loved Paisley’s first book in this series and was so excited to continue it. Wade and Ivy are adorable and I love their relationship from the start. Wade is so flustered by things that Ivy does and it’s so entertaining. I was obsessed with the way he kept her scrunchies! I thought it was absolutely adorable. They have a special code word and I love how that was incorporated into the story. I’m loving all of the side characters in this series and I’m looking forward to getting all of their stories.

🐎Ok, I fell head over heels for Nash and the whole Silver Pines crew earlier this year when Paisley published her first Silver Pines novel, Holding the Reins. I had waited with bated breath for this sequel!

🤠I absolutely loved getting to “hangout” with some of my favorite Silver Pines characters again. They were still all so endearing!

🐎There was a BIG grumpy/sunshine trope happening in this one for sure! And I love that contrast!

🤠This one was too heavy on the spice for me. HTR was about as high on spice as I can handle, and this book even went over that!😅

🐎I did love how Wade was super protective over Ivy. Don’t say I’m not a feminist…all I’m saying is it’s nice to be taken care of from time to time 😉.

🤠While this one didn’t have me hooked from the start like HTR did, it was still a great storyline, if you can handle the heavy spice!

𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Paisley Hope
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: Training the Heart
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5+ stars

𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: I adore cowboy romances! It's been a while since I've read one with everything I love. The slow-burn banter is somewhat forbidden and absolutely swoon-worthy.

Gosh, Wade Ashby is such a perfect gentleman—that's an understatement. He is so much more than just that. He's genuinely one of the best book boyfriends I've ever encountered. Wade is thoughtful, incredibly caring, and unapologetically himself when it comes to the people he loves. However, he always puts others' needs above his own.

Then there's our darling Ivy. Unfortunately, she had a terrible past with a manipulative partner who made her life a living hell. I'm so glad she finally escaped and found her chosen family in this small town. Ivy is a feeler, and that's how she guides and trains horses with so much passion.

Their bond is sweet and delightful to read about. The attraction is swoon-worthy, and the banter is something you definitely won't want to miss, either!

Overall, I loved them and the book. This story has captured my entire heart, and I will cherish it forever.

And I lovveee that Wade has his own personal collection of her scrunchies!


𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
"I've got you. You're safe. Let it out""Happy looks damn good on Wade Ashby" "Such a good boy, Chief""Don't eat my pop tarts"
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
GRUMPY X SUNSHINE
FORCED PROXIMITY
MAN OBSESSED & IN DENIAL
ROAD TRIP/ONE BED
STRONG FMC
SPICY LESSONS
SURPRISE TWIST /HEA+ 
BOSSY RANCHER WITH A FILTHY MOUTH
NO THIRD ACT BREAK-UP
he leaves her post-it- notes
” make me”
they have a special word /phrase
rugged cowboy w/ no shame & she calls him good boy
he takes care of himself with something of hers 
he cooks for her (very well)
he gets mine tattooed on his hand as a claiming collar
 he takes care of her /big acts of service

I'm super grateful for the opportunity to read this book in advance. Thank you for the ARC.

Silver Pines Ranch Book Two

✨ Cowboy Romance
✨ Grumpy X Sunshine
✨ Small Town
✨ Boss / Employee
✨ Sassy FMC

Nothing like a good Cowboy book to pull you out of a reading slump. These Ashby brothers keep getting better and better. Ivy is the new horse trainer and Wade is her grumpy boss. Both dealing with baggage from exes. These two were so fun. All the banter and playful back and forth tension. I ate this up. Ivy is a spitfire and I loved it. Wade Ashby tho.. that man has a mouth on him. He freakin blow dried her hair, talk about swoon. Also, the tattoo. I love this group of characters and the “not angels” friendship. Cole and Ginger have me so excited for the next book.

“Yes, if this is heaven, I never want to come down to earth.”

“because I never knew home until I found you.”

This book was EVERYTHING!! I honestly love it more than the first one and I didn’t even think that was possible. I love Ivy. She was a strong badass who was funny, and sweet and so caring. I loved Wade. Sign me up for a grumpy cowboy secret softy book any day because I think I fell in love. Paisley’s writing was so beautiful done. It held me captive in the story and I just wanted to know what happened next. I seriously loved this book so much and I’m so so thankful I was able to receive this arc from Netgalley. And if you guys didn’t have this preordered you definitely should go snag it up because you do not want to miss out on this SPICY small town perfection.👏🏻👏🏻

Such a fun romance book, was filled with amazing chemistry between Wade and Ivy it was flying off the page and affecting me just as much as it affected them lol i loved Wyatt and Ivy from their first introduction throughout everything else that happens in this book! Wade is a a grump, he is closed off and is barely even happy and seeing him open up and have fun more and more as the book progresses really shows how Ivy gets him to see the joy in life again. Wade convinces Ivy to give love a second chance after her abusive ex-boyfriend screwed her over and in so many ways that came out later in the books I was shocked.

I loved Wade and his interactions with his family, they were a hoot and I loved the group text messages, I’m so excited for Cole’s book as well! From the moment the tattoo was mentioned in the dedication I was waiting for it to appear and it did not let me down at all, that is so hot I did not anticipate my love for that and enjoyed it so much!

Thank you Net Galley, Paisley Hope and the publisher for this ARC!

I loved Wade and Ivy’s story. The tropes in this book are some of my favorites, grumpy x sunshine, one bed, forced proximity and work place romance. Top it all off with a cowboy and you have the perfect recipe. Silver Pines will forever be a place I love to read about.

Ivy’s growth in this book was immaculate. I loved seeing her learn that she is a strong bass ass woman and overcome her emotional damage from Brad. Wade’s touch her and die attitude is a trait I am always a sucker for. I adored that he was only soft and sweet for Ivy!

I can not wait to see what Ginger and Cole have to offer. I am foaming at the mouth waiting for the next book.

I was waiting for Wade and Ivy's story from the moment I finished Holding the Reins and I have to say it did NOT disappoint. I absolutely loved their dynamic throughout the entire book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and really enjoyed it! As a lifelong horse girl, I love reading cowboy romance and especially love it when things actually make sense and correct terms are (mostly) used *laugh

Training the Heart is book 2 in the Silver Pines Ranch series and follows grumpy rancher Wade and wild spirited Ivy, who comes to work for Wade as his newest trainer. Y’all, this book is SPICY but it didn’t take away from the story, which was really sweet and heartfelt as the two learn how to work together and deal with their own traumas and dramas together.

I wanted to like this. I truly, truly did - otherwise I would not have requested the ARC. However, I had to DNF this at about the 20% mark.

In my youth I was a competitive equestrian who rode, primarily, off the track Thoroughbreds. So, when I saw the synopsis involved the Kentucky Derby I was in. I was a little wary because I saw people billing it as a cowboy romance, and the farm it is set on is a ranch...neither of which have anything to do with Thoroughbreds. However, I looked past it and dove in.

I almost wish I hadn't.

There are so many inconsistencies from the get go. For starters, as mentioned, places that train Thoroughbreds rarely refer to themselves as a "ranch", especially in Kentucky of all places. Then there was the constant mentioning of cowboy boots. Sure, boots are boots. But again, in the Thoroughbred world, they're not as common as this makes them sound. Ivy's experience is great, but her experience training under an "AQA" trainer (...it's AQHA...) wouldn't translate well to training a racehorse AND one tiny nit-picky thing that really got under my skin was the reference to a "halter and leader rope". It's just a lead rope.

I get wanting to do a cowboy romance. Hell, I'm into cowboy romances. BUT if you wanted to go about and do something centered in the Thoroughbred and racing world, I think some more research needed to be done. Admittedly, I noped out at the 20% so maybe it got better as far as that is concerned.

I also struggled to not roll my eyes at the dialogue. I get that this is mostly smut with little plot, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that (anyone from back in the heyday of fanfiction will remember PWP ("plot what plot?") stories, after all) but there was just no build up, no lead up and no really reason to care about anyone. The number of times boobs and crotches were mentioned for no true reason was silly. I felt like these people had no personalities other than being horndogs.

In the end, I'm glad I gave it a shot but it just isn't for me.

Here is your grumpy x sunshine cowboy romance! Wade is just a grumpy little kitten you want to cuddle all day long and he and Ivy are too adorable. And the spice! Once it gets going, it doesn't stop.

These books are the answer to that little hole in your heart that the Chestnut Springs series left behind.

But Cole and Ginger are next, and I've been waiting for their story from day one, so bring it on!

Paisley Hope is at the top of the game right now. So much heart, characters you fall instantly in love with and enough heat to set the world on fire.

From Silver Pines book one, we already know Wade is an MMC in waiting and boy do we get him. He’s surly and capable and it takes just the right woman to unwind him…or more accurately, to wind him up ‘til he snaps.

Ivy’s backstory carries the heaviest tones of the narrative and relates to infertility, so if you’re sensitive to that content, be aware going in.

I love this couple’s chemistry. They see one another so clearly and truly feel made for each other.

Once the heat here gets going, it is GOING. As in, there were so many scenes that I lost count - but I never felt like the plot suffered for it!

I loved it! I’ll be back for as many as Paisley wants to write!

Don't let this sweet little cover fool you, this book was so steamy it will have you fanning yourself while reading. I just loved Wade's grumpy vibe and his dirty talk, geeeez louise I was swooning. Wade and Ivy are the definition of the perfect couple and I am so happy for them. May every woman find a grump like Wade to make her melt and satisfy her in all ways possible.

As the blurb states: "She’s chaos and he’s control, but it doesn’t take long for the levee to break and their passion to ignite." and ignite it did. I am immediately adding this authors works to my current and future TBR.

Aside from the spicy scenes I also really liked each character and their backstory and I think this book couple is realistic and relatable.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series, offering a compelling blend of romance, personal growth, and the challenges of life on a ranch. The novel follows Ivy Spencer, a spirited and optimistic horse trainer, who joins Silver Pines Ranch to pursue her dream of training a racehorse for the Kentucky Derby. There, she encounters Wade Ashby, the gruff and disciplined ranch owner. Despite their contrasting personalities—Wade's grumpiness and Ivy's sunshine—their professional relationship evolves into a passionate romance.

Classic grumpy/sunshine trope. The chemistry between Wade and Ivy is palpable, with their interactions ranging from witty banter to deeply emotional exchanges. The novel also delves into themes of trust, healing from past traumas, and the importance of family.

This book follows a very predictable romance arc, and like the first book, it is extremely spicy. I usually enjoy spicy books, but when the spice goes on for several chapters, it causes me to lose all interest.

Overall, Training the Heart is a heartfelt and steamy addition to the Silver Pines Ranch series, appealing to fans of contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy cowboy romances set in small-town settings.

Unfortunately, I have not been a fan of this series so far and will not be continuing. The books have been very predictable. I feel like I’ve already read this exact same book before. I would recommend this book to someone who hasn’t read cowboy romance books before, so the experience would seem more original.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advance copy for my review.