As always, it’s a pleasure to be at Silver Pines Ranch! I thoroughly enjoyed Wade & Ivy’s story. A wonderfully done grumpy x sunshine trope. We also get a health dose of forced proximity and a roadtrip? Sign me up!

My only critique…a little too many *spicy scenes.* I know…I sound like a stick in the mud. I ended up skimming chapters with those scenes. It got a little repetitive for me. Other than that, I genuinely enjoyed the book!

I absolutely cannot wait for Riding the High. I have been rooting for Cole & Ginger since book 1, and they are what keeps me going with this series.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The story of Ivy and Wade is an awesome read. The characters are all awesome, like old friends you love to catch up with. The plot had it ALL - romance, past emotional abuse, fun, and of course horses! A must read for all those that like a great story with a lot of STEAM.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

thank you NetGalley and Dell for the ARC! Unfortunately I was throughly disappointed by this sequel. I thought Holding the Reins had a few issues but overall was fun and well-written. Training the Heart, while an easy read, had absolutely no plot. It was 75% smut. I actually really wanted to see more about the derby prep and the race! Wade was basically a cowboy Christian Grey (not a compliment) and Ivy’s MLK tattoo??? why???? I genuinely don’t think this couple could last in the long term because they know absolutely nothing about each other. Also the HUGE amount of spelling and grammatical errors was infuriating! I really hope the 3rd book next year is an improvement. I love a cowboy romance but not like this.

Save a horse! Wade with his dirty talking, scowling, protective persona won me over fast. Ivy was a little spit fire and I loved that. They complimented each other and you could see their connection grow. Perfect mix of humor, heart, and humping (idk just continuing the H theme). Training the Heart definitely upped the spice game!

There were a few sensitive topics that I think Paisley handled with grace and care.

Wade Ashby stole my heart 💜 I knew from the first time he was mentioned in book 1 he would be a character I wouldn’t forget.

Training the Heart was one of my most anticipated books for 2024 and honestly if I could write up my own perfect book bf- it would be Wade. Every single thing about him was perfection, acts of service man through and through.

Ivy and Wade had great banter, the found family in this series is a highlight of the book as well.

This book was spicy! LOTS of spice and Paisley writes really good spice honestly- no ick factor for me! I actually did not expect as much spice as we got, so
If you’re in the mood for a spice heavy book this will definitely do the trick!!

Without any spoilers I wish a few things would have went differently at the end BUT I really enjoyed this book & I can’t wait for the rest of the series 🤠

Read if you love:
Forced proximity
Grumpy Cowboy
Great banter
Acts of service 🥲
Spicy spice 🔥
Cowboy/ranch romances
Possessive MMC
4.25⭐️
4🌶️

“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.”

“If I ever see another man’s hat on you again, I’ll be putting him through the floor with it.”

“I don’t know what ever made you think for one f**king second that it’s you against this world but it isn’t, it’s you and me. If I haven’t made it clear enough for you, Ivy, there’s everyone else and then there’s us..”

This book is HOT. Wade + Ivy are clearly made for each other.

Thank you so much to Dell Romance for the ARC! These are my honest thoughts.

I quickly fell in love with Silver Pines Ranch in CeCe and Nash's story, and I was GREEDY to get my hands on this story. I knew Wade's grumpy attitude was going to slay, and it absolutely did! He was the grumpy to Ivy's sunshine, and their balance was everything.

Other things I loved:
- Wade and Ivy are both stubborn and SO hardworking
- Glimpses of all my fave Silver Pines characters!
- More time on the ranch, working with the horses
- Spice. Pls don't read if you don't love spice.
- Complex characters with trauma, divorce, emotional abuse, and addiction in their back stories
- I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU VIBES (STRONG ONES) FROM WADE
- An emotional connection that is easy

This book was heavy on the physical connection. I felt like that was how Wade communicated. I will say, I wish there was more open communication and dialogue over spice at times. Once Wade was unleashed, we got about 70% of the book with heavy spice (with a dominant male lead). It just was a little too much for my personal preference. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the pushing of limits. I just needed something more to connect with Ivy and Wade as a couple, and it just didn't get there for me. It was missing those 5-star vibes on the emotional front for sure for me.

CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 3! Ginger is going to be everything for Cole, and I legitimately canNOT wait for it.

I read holding the reins & training the heart back to back and I KNEW this was gonna be good from the start. I love everything about Paisley’s books, the covers, writing, characters. Wade is the absolute gentleman any woman would want. It was easy to love these characters. I know a book is good when I’m thinking about it at work.


♡ Found Family
♡ Boss x Employee
♡ Forced Proximity
♡ Grumpy x Sunshine


I cannottt wait to read riding the high. I never want to leave Silver Pines.

Training the Heart by @authorpaisleyhope
ARC Review

I was so excited when I found out I was chosen to arc read this book!! I immediately messaged Paisley to tell her 😆
Wade and Ivy
Our grumpy cowboy meets our spunky and carefree horse trainer.
These two clicked so well together. He was the peaceful and steady home she was looking for and she was the happy and positive light he needed.
Ivy is funny and doesn’t hold anything back. She always has such a great look on things even though she’s working through her own demons, she handles herself so well! Ivy is a very easy character to relate to.
Wade is a hard ass and tries to hide behind that but it doesn’t last for long 🤭
He is extremely loving and protective of his family and loved ones. As soon as those walls around his heart fall for Ivy she’s his and he’s not letting her go.
They both help each other through pain and loss that they’ve been through, they bond over it and form such an amazing connection.
Paisley has been teasing us with Wade’s dirty mouth and he definitely did not disappoint! 🥵
He is a man that knows what he wants and Ivy gives it right back to him.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I absolutely love paisleys writing and this world and it felt so good to be back at silver pines!

The beginning felt a bit forced and unnatural but as the couple got to know each other it flowed better. This was SO spicy and sexy and sweet. Obsessed.

I loved Training the Heart! It was sweet, funny, emotional and spicy! I wanna become a not angel so badly! Training the Heart is the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series. You don’t have to read Holding the Reins first, but the characters appear. Cowboy romance is one of my favorite tropes and I ate this book up!

Grumpy ranch owner Wade hires sunshiny Ivy as a new horse trainer on his ranch. He is typically so closed off, but turns into a smitten kitten as he spends more time with Ivy.

These two were perfection! The banter, romance, and spice were fantastic! Both Ivy and Wade had complicated things to work out with their pasts. Wade’s annoying ex wife wouldn’t take the hint, and he was never interested in settling down. Ivy had an abusive ex, and I loved how Wade put him in his place.

Wade, his friends, and family all helped Ivy feel at home at the ranch. He was so protective and always made sure to support Ivy. Her dreams were important to him and he did everything possible to help them come true. I can’t even tell you how hard I swooned when Wade publicly kissed her and claimed her.

The spice in this book was super hot! Their movie nights were quite fun. These two were pretty experimental, and I will never look at scrunchie in the same way.

I can’t wait for Riding the High, which will be the third book in the series! I’m already loving the dynamic between Cole and Ginger. I’m so excited for their book!

3.5 stars

I was looking forward to reading Wade and Ivy’s story and I’m happy to report back and say Wade and his filthy mouth does not disappoint. The many acts of service Wade does for Ivy truly showed how much he cared for her from the very start, despite his outwardly grumpy demeanor. I lived for all those moments where they bonded, especially through watching movies together as a huge movie fan myself. Since Ivy and Wade were both burned in the past by their exes, they almost sort of gave up on finding love until they found and everything fell perfectly into place.. it was beautiful to see. My only complaints is some odd choices of dialogue during the sex scenes and the way so much of their relationship was centered around those sexual desires, it got repetitive after a while. I’m also not a fan of the trope used at the very end of the book either but i couldn’t help but feel pure joy for these two and how obsessed they were with one another. I liked this a bit less than book one but Wade and Ivy were genuinely cute together and i just love the whole pines ranch family so much.

4.5 stars

I was anxiously awaiting the return to Silver Pines and as expected Paisley did not disappoint. The writing is impeccable, descriptive without being flowery and truly immersed me into this small town. The banter and near immediate steam coming off of Wade and Ivy was unexpected in the best way. This was by no means a slow burn but the tension was so so good. I loved the character development of our grumpy rancher and getting to see his softer side. Ivy, was fun and confident and when she wasn't, Wade was there to pick her right up. The pacing overall was fantastic and left me racing through the pages. My only gripe is with how much we saw Cole and Ginger, along with their banter- it made me want their book already. This is small town, cowboy romance done right and I can't wait to see more from this author.

Training the Heart follows Wade and Ivy. Wade is running his family's ranch after the death of his father. His current horse trainer needs to take a few months off for maternity leave. Wade needs to hire a temporary replacement. Ivy is a horse trainer and jumps at the opportunity to work at Silver Pines Ranch. She is leaving a bad relationship and needs a place to start over. Wade and Ivy find themselves working closely together on the ranch but also training a horse for the Derby. The story is set with great tropes of small town, workplace, and forced proximity.

I loved the characters of Wade and Ivy. I loved their relationship/banter. The side characters/townspeople are great. I liked the side stories that Wade and Ivy both had going on with their exes. The one thing that brought my rating down a smidge...I thought there was a little too much spice. I could have done with half the amount. I understand that is personal preference. I still loved the book and characters. The Silver Pines series is setting itself up to be one of my favorite romance series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Paisley Hope for the opportunity to read and review Training the Heart!

I struggled with the beginning chapters since they pick up immediately from Book 1. It felt a bit abrupt so I definitely recommend rereading the final scenes if it's a while. But once you hit chapter 6, everything kind of settles into place and my interest in Wade and Ivy picked up. What I delighted in the most was the incredible atmosphere Paisley Hope is able to achieve. I can see this ranch vividly in my mind and it makes the comfort trope absolutely delicious as I envision Wade caring for the injured Ivy in his secluded but spacious cabin.

Ivy is trusting in the universe. Finding the job opening as a trainer at Silver Pines was the emergency exit sign she needed to escape her past life. She's incredible with the horses and could be exactly what the ranch needs return to competing in the Kentucky Derby. A challenge I didn't fully appreciate until this book - only three-year old horses can race in the derby so they have to be trained perfectly in order to qualify in time. It's a multimillion and multiyear investment. Wade is the eldest of the Ashby siblings as has taken the primary responsibility for their ranch after their dad passed last year. People say he's grumpy (and he is) but he's got too much on his plate for small talk and pleasantries. So although Ivy may be the horse whisperer he needs, her vivacious personality is more than Wade can handle. But when she suffers a riding injury, he moves her into his guest room to ensure that she heals up in time for their derby schedule.

These two loners find that they have a lot more in common and just can't help falling for each other. Too stubborn to accept help from others, they become each other's biggest supporters. The chemistry is darling with movie nights, horse rides and nursing each other to health. There's no point where you don't think they'll end up together, so it's very low stakes. I'm excited to read about the next brother in the series.

“He's a dark horse. But can she tame him?"

This steamy sequel to The Silver Pines series follows the oldest Ashby sibling, Wade, and the romance he develops with his new horse trainer, Ivy.

If you're a fan of the "grumpy/sunshine" trope, then you will absolutely love Wade and Ivy! You learn a bit about each of the characters in book 1, but this novel dives even deeper into both of their backstories which serves their character development and seeing how they overcome their struggles, protect and lift each other up together throughout the book.

With some interconnected standalone series, the characters from each book may only make a few appearances in the other books, however, this series keeps all the characters so intertwined it really creates the sense of community and relationships between everyone who appears. Love that! I don't think I'll ever tire of laughing from the Not Angels crew and Ashby family!

*Ps - when I said "steamy" sequel, I mean STEAMY🥵! I thought Holding the Reins was spicy, well this one kicked it up a notch for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine, and Dell Romance for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Themes/Tropes:
*Dual POV
*Cowboy Romance
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*Workplace Romance
*Forced Proximity
*Road Trip/One Bed

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pub Date: December 31, 2024

4⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this!

This was such a fun read, I’m really loving these Silver Pines Ranch novels. “Training the Heart” is the second in the series. I love the dynamic between Wade and Ivy, and they’re both such strong characters who have each been through a lot but get through it all together so beautifully. I love how Ivy is so independent and Wade is supportive of her but never overbearing. Also, Wade in general 🙂‍↔️ (…when she walks in on him in a towel, I too was blushing). Spice was spicing🌶️🌶️🌶️

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a good cowboy romance!

Miss Paisley Hope, you truly out did yourself with this one! I didn't know if you could top Nash Carter but you truly delivered with Wade Ashby.

I was really looking forward to the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series and it lived up to all of my expectations. Wade Ashby is CeCe's grumpy older brother who is a hot cowboy. He's been wronged in the past and a thick shield around his icy cold heart. That is until his new horse trainer Ivy Spencer walks into his life. At first these two get off to a rocky start. But it doesn't take long before they realize that they can't keep their hands off each other. And boy does the chemistry pop off, especially when either one of them says mercy 👀

What I loved most about this book was the fact that Wade is so grumpy but melts when he is with Ivy. Like this man literally never smiles but he does for Ivy. And he HAS DIMPLES! I melted myself when he showed his dimples just for her. But also, I think we need to talk about Wades filthy mouth. It's an honorable mention because boy does this man have a mouth on him. The things that this man said had me sweating! If you thought Holding the Reins was spicy, you've read nothing yet because this one is blazing hot!

I also truly loved Ivy's character. I loved how strong of a character she was. She was confident in who she was. She knew what she wanted and had no problem going after it. But with that being said, she also had character growth. I felt like Wade brought a different side out in her. She became this goddess with him. Also just know if a trigger for you is abuse, know that Ivy has suffered from partner emotional abuse in the past and does over come it.

One thing I love about interconnected series, such as this one, is the fact that all of our favorite characters played a major role in this book. I loved seeing Nash and CeCe. This book highlights their bridal shower and planning their wedding. But we also get snippets of Cole and Ginger, which has me SOOOOO excited for their book. As well as Olivia and I think I know who her MMC will be just by a scene that played out.

At the end of the day, I love Paisley Hope. And I am starting to realize I don't think she can write a bad book. And I think I will forever love her MMCs. She just writes such a scorching hot romance! Paisley, I love you and keep them coming!

You should most definitely read this book if you like:
- Small Town Romance
- Dirty Talking Cowboy
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Man Obsessed
- Strong FMC

i'm really just obsessed with cowboy romances and this was so freaking good! I love Wade and Ivy together and the overall writing was really solid. and the steam hehe

This had all of my most favorite tropes in a romance novel- forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, & a road trip scene. Wade is definitely one of my new book boyfriends, and Ivy is a female main character that you will find your self rooting for!! And the only one bed scene is everything that a romance girl could desire! Highly recommend for your next fun, heartfelt romance read-especially if you're looking for spice!

[i was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! 5 dirty talking stars right here baby. I am mush. I am dust. I am a puddle. I don't know if any man will ever compare to Wade Ashby, honestly.

When I read the first book in the Silver Pines Ranch series, Holding the Reins, i was floored by how amazing it was. I didn't think it could get any better, but I've never been so glad to be so wrong. Wade Ashby is the hunky cowboy of my dreams. And Ivy is every bit the sassy spitfire I was hoping she would be. wow im just honestly so lost for words because this book was so good. It is rare for me to give a book 4 stars, let alone 5, and then to give BOTH books in the series both 5 stars... wow... Paisley is just such an amazing writer for real. Her prose is so eloquent while her words are so filthy, I love.love.love it. Making my future husband get mine tattooed on his hand because I didn't know i needed that until now

If you love "dirty talk so filthy it's dripping, a bold and brazen FMC, and a grumpy rancher who's so down bad for his leading lady it's unfair" than this is just the book for you