I love this book. I have been gravitating towards cowboy-romances for the past year and this was exactly what I wanted. I read this twice, once with advanced-reader-copy eyes and then just for enjoyment.

I am a sucker for a grumpy character, and man, does Ian ever have the valid reason. He is trying to get a grip on his new reality, while shaping his future. This includes getting away from the world of horses, somewhere he has spent two decades. He went long with watching over his sister’s new investment, and lands himself exactly where he didn’t want to be.

In comes Bronwen. As the manager of the barn on Morning Song Farm she’s kept busy with the community that has been built around the horses. Fiercely loyal to the people she loves. Which promptly lands her confronting Ian for the help they need to keep Morning Song Farm running. Luckily Ian’s soft spot are the horses, and that starts their relationship.

I really love this book. I enjoyed how easy it was to read and how community was at the heart of keeping Morning Song Farm alive. Ian and Bronwen’s love for the horses was definitely a part of the foundation of their partnership, and from that feelings started to flourish. Granted those feelings were some major lust at first, but it was fertile soil and other feelings begun to grow.

This was a rare occurrence where I requested a book from NetGalley based on the title and the cover. It is appropriately named- there’s a grumpy man and a grumpy horse. I wouldn’t know the first thing about caring for a horse but based on the detail of the horse boarding facility I’d be willing to say the author has extensive knowledge.

It’s a cute story. Love interests do fall for each other fast but this is also a short book. There is enough conflict to keep interest but not too much that I wanted to constantly roll my eyes. The horses are very present in the story but in a good way.

I do wish we got more on Hades prior owner. It was hinted that he was abused and I’m thinking the story didn’t want to go too dark so kinda left it alone. I’m glad he ended up at a good place. He had every right to be grumpy/difficult.

The Grump Whisperer by Katy James is the first book in the Morningsong Farm series, focusing on Bronwen, a devoted farm manager, and Ian, a grumpy former show jumper. When the farm is sold, Bronwen faces challenges under the new ownership, especially with Ian, who uses the farm as a retreat. Their initial animosity slowly shifts to romance, though the transition feels abrupt, with little emotional buildup. Set in a small-town atmosphere revolving around the farm, the story showcases Bronwen’s passion for horses but struggles with pacing, as key romantic developments feel rushed despite a promising start.

A cute and quick read. I don't know much about horses so somethings didn't make sense to me. Things moved pretty quickly throughout the story. You do get both POV's which I always like. Both characters had to overcome things and they did that together. Overall a cute story!

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - July 28, 2024
Publication Date - November 26, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @katyjameswriter, @harlequinbooks and @netgalley!

The Grump Whisperer is a spicy and quick read that is perfect if you are looking for a palate cleanser in between longer or heavier books. That being said, this book has some great themes and messages about making the most out of second chances in life and resilience by getting back up when life pushes you down. I went into it expecting a slow burn romance and even though it felt more like insta lust, I still had a good time. I really enjoyed getting to know the side characters and feeling connected to Hades. I also had fun learning more about horses and everything that goes into running a horse barn, which was really cool! Overall, this book is short, sweet and spicy.

If you like small town romance books about horses, you should give The Grump Whisperer a try!

Get excited to read The Grump Whisperer, available, November 26! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

it was such a fun & sweet book. i will admit, one of the reasons i requested this book was because grump was in the title & there was a horse on the front as i am a huge grumpy character lover & horse lover.

i liked the two main characters and their development throughout the book. i thought there could’ve definitely been more of a slower burn to their relationship & that the mmc was more grumpy throughout the whole book & didn’t just stop being grumpy or at least less grumpy. i liked their dynamic though and how much he understood her.

other than that, i loved the community aspect of the farm & as well as the horses. i’ve always loved horses since i was young, so it was fun to read a book with them in it.

anyways, it was a very cute read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that focuses on a former show jumper who was injured in an accident. His sister urges him to assist on a horse farm despite not being able to ride any longer and man is he a grump! This had good bands, her but lacked a little bit and angst. Overall, it was a fun read but I struggled a bit with the third act strife.

An engaging story revolving around a horse farm. Unfortunate accidents left the main characters with issues. Interesting to watch their growth and realization that there could be a romance. I did skip over the intimate details. A nice variety of characters. Good to see this is the beginning of a series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

The Grump Whisperer by Katy James is the first book in the Morningsong Farm Series. This is Bronwen and Ian’s story.
 
Bronwen lives and breathes for her job as the manager of the Morningsong Farm, but everything changes when the farm gets sold and the new owners don't seem to care. Bronwen is a confident and hardworking woman and her love for the horses is visible on every page. This book and her reminded me a bit of the horse and pony books I read as a child.
 
Ian’s sister is the new owner of the Morningsong Farm, and it becomes his hideout, and he needs a break. He was a former show jumper and didn’t expect to get sucked back in with horses. He is the epitome of a grumpy character who is often very rude and unlikeable and therefore I had a hard time connecting to him. It took too long for him to show a good and lovable side of him.
 
This book is very much a small-town romance that only revolves around the farm. Ian is a hindrance at first and therefore he closes with Bronwen and these two needed way too long to draw near each other. The switch from tolerating each other to loving each other happened basically overnight and there wasn’t really a romantic build-up and it felt very casual. At some points they just were together and it felt like the book skipped important scenes and that was quite sad because it had a promising beginning.
 
If you’re looking for a very classical small-town romance with a romance that is mainly implied, this might be for you. 3 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Bronwyn is a barn manager that has just been bought by a new owner. Ian's sister just bought a farm and he plans to hide from the world there. However, as it turns out the farm is actually a horse boarding farm and the barn manager, Bronwyn, has become a pain in Ian's ass. As responsibilities begin to pile up around the farm, Bronwyn and Ian will need to work together to keep the horses safe and the farm running. Each has baggage from their past, but maybe together they will be able to move forward.

This book was super short and moved extremely fast. I would not have minded if more time was spent developing the setting and the romance. However, the characters were well-developed for the short amount of time they were in the book.

Cute, but spicy book. I really liked the storyline however could have skipped so much spice in it. I liked the storyline set in a horse barn. There were some very heartwarming parts in the book and it has strong themes of found family.

Thank you to Harlequin books and Netgalley for the chance to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

When a sunshine barn manager meets the grumpy former show jumper will love bloom?

Ok I don’t know I really enjoyed the horse aspects of this books. I loved the cast of characters that boarded their horses at the barn. I loved that you could tell how much care was put into writing about the horses and the barn. However, I just don’t think the same care was put into the romance. Ian was clearly supposed to be a grump and he was for like 3 chapters. It felt very insta love to me and Bronwen and Ian were just not well developed. The first kiss came out of nowhere so suddenly the first time that I had to go back and read it because I was so confused?? I think had there been been 50 more pages then the relationship could have developed way more naturally.

I’m in a cowboy romance phase so I still enjoyed this book and it was a fun quick read. However, I think if there were just a few tweaks it would be an excellent book. A 3.5 star read for me.

thank you net galley for the digital arc. Browen and Ianhave such an emotinal attraction i loved that bowen was the one to start start the sexual relationship. the setting was so perfect.

The perfect romance for that horse girl who lives in all of us. Did I mention its sexy as hell. The grump/sunshine trope didn't still around long enough to really impact the love story as much as I thought it would. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin

I'm a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine romance, and I was excited to read a book with a horse backdrop and a slow burn. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark a bit for me. The burn was almost a little too slow, and the progression of Ian and Bronwen's relationship did not feel natural. Not for me, but I can definitely see the appeal for the right reader!

I am a sucker for a grumpy sunshine book and one set with the backdrop of horses I am immediately invested. I found the book super easy to read in the best way. I really enjoyed all the characters as well and was routing for the relationship.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honesy review.

This book was decent. The beginning went at a good pace but towards the middle of the book things really dragged on. I don't mind a slow burn but it felt almost too slow for me.
I also would have liked Ians grumpiness to last a little longer.

** spoiler alert ** ***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***

This was my first Katy James book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Bronwyn is a barn manager that has a "if you cant do, teach" vibe and Ian is a broken broody grump who just wants to not be in charge of a horse boarding barn since he was injured in a horse show. The romance was a slow burn and the grump could have been grumpier for me; but overall the story moved along at a good pace and I loved the relationships with the side characters.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn to this title for the horse atmosphere and slow burn trope. While I was initially hooked on the writing style, I had a hard time believing the development of the romance plot between characters as feelings unnaturally blossomed out of nowhere. I DNF'd halfway through, and it just wasn't for me.

If you love horses and an adorable grumpy MMC read this! It brought swooning into the outdoors and I lived every minute of it! The cover is adorable and the book got me in the feels. What a cute one!!!