Move over, Mr. whats.jes.reading, Wade Ashby has entered the chat. Paisley - I have no words. I am irrevocably in love with every man you write. 😂💕 Training the heart was 100% worth the wait!

If you’re a sucker for grumpy/sunshine romance with a side of swoony cowboys and stubbornly lovable horse trainers, Training the Heart is a must-read! This second installment in the Silver Pines Ranch series strikes the perfect balance between slow-burn chemistry and emotional depth, all set against the picturesque backdrop of ranch life. But let me tell you, this slow burn turns into a full blown bonfire.

Wade Ashby is the quintessential brooding cowboy—steadfast, self-reliant, and oh-so-closed-off. But when Ivy Spencer arrives with her free spirit and undeniable talent, she turns his carefully managed world upside down. Ivy’s resilience and charm shine through, making it impossible not to root for her as she pursues her Derby dreams while breaking through Wade’s walls.

What makes this story stand out is the beautifully layered character development. Wade and Ivy’s differences—chaos versus control, sunshine versus storm—are the perfect recipe for both conflict and passion. Their fiery debates over training methods mirror the emotional journey they go on together, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying.

Oh, and the horse race subplot? Pure magic! It adds tension, stakes, and a deeper bond between the characters as they work toward a shared goal.

Whether you’re here for the romance, the ranch life, or the horses, Training the Heart delivers on all fronts. It’s heartfelt, steamy, and packed with small-town charm.

Well, Paisley's done it again... I absolutely devoured Training the Heart and am so happy I finally got my hands on a copy.

This was a fantastic continuation of the Silver Pine series, and a great example of why I love this book genre so much. Paisley has perfected the strong, complex FMC and obsessed, dominating yet completely gone (for her) MMC combination - and it's no different with Ivy and Wade. This book was a great mix of the big tropes, like GrumpyxSunshine, boss/employee, and small town, and the micro tropes, like spicy lessons, special tattoos, HEA, and one bed.

I love everything Paisley creates and completely fell for this book. She tee'd up Cole and Ginger's story perfectly and paid homage to Nash and CeCe in the best ways. Can't wait for #3!

This is the perfect grumpy/sunshine + boss employee cowboy romance! I can not get enough of small town cowboy romances 😍 Wade & Ivy both have past relationships that have left scars but reading about them falling so hard for each other despite their painful past was heartwarming. So many swoon worthy moments. Their love story was everything—Wade’s care for Ivy, his ability to empower her to stand up for herself, and his readiness to take on anyone who dared to hurt her made this book unforgettable.

ARC Review
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I thought I’d be maxed out on the number of cowboy romances I’ve read this year but after reading Training the Heart, I realized I don’t think there is a limit.

This was a great follow up in the Silver Pines series! Book number two features Wade Ashby, who hires Ivy Spencer as a temporary horse trainer. Try as he might, he can’t deny his attraction to her. Their chemistry is palpable….I think the last half of the book was 70% spice and I was NOT mad about that 😂. Wade might be one of the top book boyfriends I’ve read recently! I mean, he (gladly) cooks for her, takes care of her when something happens to her, and does something for her at the end that made my heart melt and swoon.

I loved this book! From the banter and angst, to the secret longing and spice…this had almost every trope that I love. Forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, and forbidden workplace romance to name a few. Although both of them had some baggage from prior relationships, I loved that even though their personalities seemed so opposite, their similar past made them realize they had more in common than they realized. I can’t wait to read Ginger and Cole’s book! Their banter in these first two books has been the best preview as to how their story will go.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

The perfect grumpy/sunshine + boss employee cowboy romance! 🤠
Wade Ashby will live rent free in my mind for quite some time bc HOLY SMOKES this man is HOT 🥵
Wade & Ivy both have past relationships that have left scars but reading about them falling so hard for each other despite their painful past was heartwarming. So many swoon worthy moments. I freaking love this whole family 😭


Thank you Paisley & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼

Thank you to Paisley Hope & her team for sending me this ARC.

I was so excited to read the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Wade Ashby, the man that you are.

If you love GOOD spice and a swoon-worthy cowboy romance with grumpy-shine vibes, then this is the read for you. I'm so excited to read Cole and Ginger's story!

This is the first book in this series I have read. Will I be going back and reading the first one? Absolutely.

Ivy and Wade are a perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing with a dash of workplace romance.
If you came for the cowboys you’ll stay for the mine tattoo (and of course the spice).

Wade Ashby is the ultimate 10/10 filthy-mouthed MMC. Training the Heart delivers a perfect grumpy x sunshine cowboy romance, and Ivy Spencer was such a joy to get to know. Their love story was everything—Wade’s care for Ivy, his ability to empower her to stand up for herself, and his readiness to take on anyone who dared to hurt her made this book unforgettable.

Training My Heart has got to be one of the top books I have read this year!!

Paisley Hope has an amazing way of writing a book that will leave you wanting more, as well as keeping you engaged the entire time you read.

Wade Ashby came out of nowhere and stole my heart💙

The prologue was written so well that once I read it I just knew this book was going to have me in a chokehold. I enjoyed Ivy so much and I felt for her the whole time I heard about her story. I liked the fact that Wade was such a softie and a sweetheart behind all that grumpy cowboy exterior and it was nice to see that he had a chance at a happy ending.

Not only was the plot and overall storyline perfection I loved that it had a lot of spicy scenes! Although that was mostly what the book consisted of I loved the aspect of the found family because I like to see those who don’t have much be taken it by loving characters!

I was sad to reach the end, but I can’t wait to see what else we will see from Silver Pines Ranch along with the Ashby family!

A huge thank you to both NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc!

Ummmm excuse me Miss Hope… can you send me my own Wade Ashby please and thank you.

This book was SO GOOD!!! I am in love with all the characters but I adore how Ivy is such a strong bad*as woman who stays true to herself but still allows others into her heart and how Wade changes throughout the book because Ivy is his PERSON!

The whole story is amazing and I can’t wait to see what is next 😍

If you’re craving a steamy cowboy romance with grumpy x sunshine vibes, Paisley Hope’s Training the Heart delivers in spades! It’s the perfect follow up to Holding the Reigns, and I truly think that Paisley Hope’s writing just gets better and better. 🌾🤠

📖 Meet Wade, a broody ranch owner buried in responsibility and heartbreak. Enter Ivy, a fiery horse trainer with a love for animals and a determination to rebuild her life. Their chemistry? Off the charts and it’s clear they were meant to cross paths and show each other how to really live life.🔥

From fiery debates about horse training to stolen glances across the ranch, their dynamic is pure tension and slow burn goodness. Wade’s need for control clashes perfectly with Ivy’s free spirited approach, and the result is a beautifully written push and pull that will have you rooting for them.

What I loved:
🐴 Ivy’s unwavering passion for her work and her dream to make it to the Kentucky Derby
🤠 Wade’s quiet strength and the depth of his journey to let love back into his life
🔥 The moment their walls come down? SPICY and emotional
💔 Themes of healing, trust, and building a future despite a painful past

The small town ranch setting is so vivid, you’ll feel like you’re living at Silver Pines, surrounded by horses and heartbreak. And the romance? Equal parts sweet and scorching.

✨A must read for fans of slow burn, opposites attract love stories with ALL the cowboy feels. Add this to your TBR—you won’t regret it! 🐎❤️

Thank you to NetGalley, Paisley Hope, and Random House Publishing/Dell for the eARC of this book.

Wade may be one of my all time favorite characters. I have always loved the grumpy x sunshine trope, but he was something else. Seeing both characters grow over the course of the book was a joy. 5 star read for sure!

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.