“See, I knew you were trouble, yet all I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met you is show you how to behave.” 🤍

Paisley Hope is such a comfort author for me. I read Holding The Reins in March, and Wolf.e recently, and knew I’d fall in love with anything else Paisley wrote. She creates worlds and characters that you cannot hell but absolutely fall in love with. I knew I’d fall hard and fast for Training the Heart and Wade Ashby when I read the tropes — boss x employee, one bed, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, cowboys, and everything a book needs to be a five star in my eyes. I loved the group chat texts between the male characters and female characters, and found them so amusing. We get glimpses into Nash and CeCe’s life since Holding the Reins, family bonds one could only dream of, a sassy female main character, and a soft but only for her male main character. Wade Ashby.. good god. Let’s start with the tattoo?! 🫠 I was feral. I cannot get enough of this man. Goodbye Nash, hello Wade. THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN. It’s fine, I’m fine. 🥵 He’s grumpy, gorgeous, and a force to be reckoned with. Ivy Spencer reads and listens to smutty romance audiobooks, just like the rest of us. I immediately fell in love with her because she’s one of the book girlies. She trusts animals more than people, which is also a trait I share with her. She’s been let down and disappointed one too many times, and has trust issues. I love them both so much. The growth of their relationship felt so organic and natural, paced well, and written well. The spice, banter, and epilogue are all immaculate. I could go on and on about them, and this book, and honestly Paisley too.

Thank you so much, Paisley Hope, and Netgalley for the arc & allowing me to read and review Training the Heart ahead of release day. I cannot wait to pickup a physical copy of this one to set beside Holding the Reins. 🤍You’ve done it yet again, Paisley. I cannot wait for the next Silver Pines book. Training the Heart releases December 31st, and is currently available for preorder on Amazon. 🤍

“I knew you were trouble, yet all I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met you is show you how to behave."
•

grumpy cowboy falls for his horse trainer…need I say more?!

Wade and Ivy’s journey from casual colleagues to serious sweethearts is tantalizingly mouthwatering and everything you could want from the story of two people with sky-high emotional walls.

I adore the Ashby family and Silver Pines Ranch, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
•

this and that:
♡ action films
♡ boss x employee
♡ cowboys
♡ dimples
♡ dual pov
♡ forced proximity
♡ found family
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ he cooks for her
♡ he’s obsessed
♡ horse training
♡ hurt x comfort
♡ karaoke
♡ late night ice cream
♡ men in glasses
♡ open door spice
♡ ranch life
♡ roommates
♡ scrunchies
♡ slow burn
♡ small town
♡ unexpected pregnancy
♡ wear the hat, ride the cowboy
♡ workplace romance
•

triggers:
☞ alcoholism (mentioned)
☞ death of a loved one
☞ emotional abuse
☞ explicit sexual content
☞ grief
☞ infertility
☞ manipulation
☞ physical intimidation

An absolute thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.
My emotions were definitely taken for a ride with this one.
Welp it's official...l need a cowboy....Preferably a hard working loyal, grumpy, dirty talking man like Wade. The chemistry and banter alone between them was amazing but truly their relationship absolute perfection. But his reassurance and support for Ivy has me in an absolute puddle. They compliment each other as much as they rile each other up.
And as always l'm such a sucker for strong found family.
Paisley writes her supporting characters just as strong as her MCs. I LOVED the Not Angels and their acceptance of Ivy without a second thought. Not that she couldn't carry her own weight with her sunshine and sass but she really fit right in with whole crew.

Paisley Hope does it again with the sequel of the silver pines ranch series. Her writing style has become one of my favorites just because it’s so fun and flowy and overall so easy to devour. I hate to say it but I think training the heart is now my #1 in the series and I can’t wait for the others to come out. The communication, the banter, the side characters, the SPICE (literally had me giggling and kicking my feet). Everything was just so on par with the rest of her work and I can’t wait to see what else comes next

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Training the Heart by Paisley Hope is a spicy cowboy romance following the bossy and stoic rancher, Wade, and the lively and sassy trainer, Ivy, who he's hired to train a racehorse for the Kentucky Derby.

I absolutely loved this next installment of the Silver Pines Ranch series! Holding the Reins was so so good, and book two took that momentum and ran with it! I found both characters endearing in their own way, each bringing baggage and trauma to the relationship that only made them stronger together as they found ways to beat the odds instead of letting it tear them apart.

I gave this five stars because it perfectly balanced plot and romance for me and if you haven't jumped into your cowboy romance era, consider this your sign to do so. Paisley Hope has definitely cemented her title as an auto-buy author for me!

This second book is better (and spicier) than the first. 3.5 rounded up.

I would say this book is a romance book (vs romcom), with the relationship and spice being the lead, and the storyline being more secondary. Even within that, Hope pulled the story together better than the first one in the series - both improved writing and not having loose ends forgotten as the story progresses.

Two things I didn’t love:
- Some of the language/conversations feel unrealistic (e.g., Ivy confronting Brad in the hospital)
- The fertility journey - both thinking she can’t get pregnant to spontaneously getting pregnant (feels like diminishing the struggle many woman go through) as well as what the suspect about Brad’s doctor

Thank you to NetGalley, Paisley Hope, and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Received as an ARC.

🪻 Grumpy x Sunshine
🪻 Forced proximity
🪻 Man obsessed
🪻 Road trip
🪻 One bed
🪻 Spicy lessons
🪻 Surprise twist ending
🪻 No third act breakup 🙌🏻

I ate this up and left zero crumbs!!! After reading the first book in this season I couldn’t wait to dive into Training The Heart. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver, Brooke Montgomery and Devney Perry then you are going to absolutely love Paisley’s work. It’s well worth the read and a solid 5 stars from me. Now just to not so patiently wait for book 3.

Paisley Hope, you queen you. Training the Heart, FIVE STARS.

We head back to Silver Pines for book 2 right where our epilogue sort of left off in Holding the Reins. Ivy is the new horse trainer on the ranch and grumpy Wade is her boss. She’s immediately caught his eye but *sigh* he’s her boss. Can’t have that right?

Paisley gives us the best small town, found family vibes. Her humor through these characters is immaculate. You feel like a part of the crew from the beginning. There’s a great balance of plot and character growth. And a trope towards the end I COMPLETELY didn’t know about (I don’t read blurbs, or commit advertised tropes to memory).

I adored Ivy. Her independence and just blatant attitude towards her boss had me cackling. She fits right in with the crew and might be my favorite FMC so far. Paisley has a way with writing some queen female main characters, you just want to be one of the Not So Angels.

Wade had me giggling. He’s grumpy and sticks to his job but can’t help but stray away from his routine when Ivy comes along. Also, the way Paisley slips in a little bit of his ego here and there in his POV was cracking me up.

Another fave. Thank you to the author and publisher the ARC.

I just have to say I was down bad after reading Holding The Reins for Nash Carter. But now?! Wade Ashby is really THAT man. He is so sexy and that mouth should be illegal. Such a grumpy cowboy but when he opens up he has a gooey caramel center for the woman he loves and I couldn’t get enough! I knew from the first book that I would absolutely love Ivy as well. They’re a match made in heaven! Her fire and sass perfectly matches up to Wade and she doesn’t take any shit from him! I love her growth and the strength she has made me want to cry! What a woman! I couldn’t put this book down, once I started reading it I was absolutely hooked. Paisley Hope you’re now officially an automatic buy author. Everything you write is gold! Now I’ll be patiently(very impatiently) waiting for Cole and Ginger. A million stars out of 5.

I was a little wary after reading the first book, but I really enjoyed this! The writing overall was much better in this book and the relationship felt more natural. As an Elsie Silver fan this is the perfect kind of book for me. Was the book predictable? Yes. But was it still fun to read? Absolutely. I think there could have been a bit more development of the characters and definitely of their relationship, but overall an easy read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love it so much, Ivy and wade together are perfection and this book made me want more of Cole and ginger.

I looooove this series, Paisley Hope is definitely one to watch. There was SO MUCH SEX in this book but I was here for it! Fantastic chemistry and communication, and talk about a man who is DOWN BAD. Love it!

Paisley Hope has done it again! Her premiere series as an author—Training the Heart takes us back to the beloved Silver Pines Ranch.

Wade Ashby is a handsome, rugged and honest cowboy in charge of his family’s ranch. Ivy Spencer, despite her heavy and traumatic past, is a silly, optimistic horse trainer hired to fill an empty role at the ranch. While nobody can deny her beauty, Ivy is quite the annoyance to her grumpy boss, who may just be in denial of how much he needed her and visa versa.

This story was filled with tension, steam and did not lack any spice. I loved it even more than Holding the Reins, but I’m also partial to a broody MMC.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing—Ballantine for the ARC copy to read and review. I was so excited to receive this after being one of Paisley’s original ARC readers before she became traditionally published.

I absolutely love this book, Wade and Ivy definitely caught my attention. Fighting the attraction, boss and employee, and honestly showing Wade’s gruff personality melt into his caring self truly had me in a grip. This book gave me a whirlwind of emotions it really is worth the read! The spice in this is off the charts, I truly love Paisley’s writing but this series so far has a hold on me I can’t wait to see what’s next for Silver Pines Ranch!

✨ boss x employee
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ he falls first
✨ cowboy romance
✨ small town family ranch
✨ no third act break up

An absolute must read to add to your TBR releasing December 6 in the US and Canada but already available in the UK! This grumpy cowboy with too much on his shoulders and a raven haired horse trainer that is there to get under his skin in this new romance by Paisley Hope. Ivy is on Silver Springs Ranch for a short time but in that time Wade realizes he hasn’t been living for years until Ivy comes along and wakes him up.

I knew getting Wades story would take me out and I was so correct. Wade and Ivys story was spicy, sweet, a little heartbreaking but all over full of so much depth and meaning. I love that both of them have experienced shared grief that not many would understand and can get each other in ways they haven’t been seen before. There’s a forced proximity element where the grumpy cowboy but can’t help but to take care of her. I love getting to see under Wades skin and get to see who he truly is.

I loved everything about this book. Paisley Hope never fails to bring the emotion, love and spice. Everything about Wade and Ivy was perfection. I loved their banter and their genuine care for one another. Wade was so swoony and had such a dirty mouth. I highly recommend this book.

Woooo I adored CeCe and Nash, but Wade and Ivy have taken the Silver Pines “best couple” award. I don’t normally gravitate toward grumpy x sunshine, but this was soo well done. Same with the boss x employee trope, which isn’t my fave because I’m never a fan of that sort of power imbalance. But Hope handled these SO WELL. Wade was grumpy but sexy as hell, and Ivy absolutely deserved his worship after everything she’d been through with her horrible ex. Highly recommend, and I can’t wait for Cole and Ginger!

What can I say? Another winning book from Paisley Hope. This is one of the best grumpy x sunshine romance books ever. The story revolves around Ivy, the new horse trainer at the Silver Pines Ranch and Wade, the owner. Both MCs have been through toxic and bad relationships so both have some reservations about dating and love. But of course, they couldnt resist each other. They are just so perfect for each other. The tension is palpable and you can feel it in almost every page before they even got together. The banter in this book is also top notch. There's a couple of scenes where I laughed out loud or some lovey dovey scenes that made me giggle and kick my feet. I thought Holding the Reins was spicy but this one is spicccccccyyyyyy in a good way 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. When the spice hits, it hits!

I love all the side characters too and cannot wait for their books. This has become one of my favorite cowboy series ever and already want to reread. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a swoony and steamy love story. Oh I almost forgot - that twist towards the end? Amazing! Like I almost cried for them. Couldnt have happened to a couple more deserving.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and Paisley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Love this book!

🌶: 2.5 out of 5
⭐️: 3.25 out of 5
🍿*: 5 out of 5

Training the Heart is a cute small town romance novel that touches on abusive past relationships, one bed, forced proximity and grumpy x sunshine. It follows the story of boss Wade Ashby and employee Ivy Carter as they work at Silver Pines Ranch just in time for Derby season. Overall their love story has all of the components I enjoy reading in a contemporary novel and the characters are so easily lovable. As this is the second book in the Silver Pines Series I have to give a shoutout to my favorite side character, Ginger, for saving the day again!

The spice levels in this book is rated a little lower as I was under the impression Wade liked to be a little spicier in the bedroom but the scenes just didn't do it for me. Wade is still very generous and of course knows what he's doing!! Overall, I would rate this at a 3.25 as I had a harder time relating to Ivy with her overarching issues but the popcornability is at a 5! Popcorn scale is referring to how easily consumable the book is overall - I read this book in one sitting lol

*Warning: Possible Spoilers, Read With Caution!*

A big thanks goes to the author, Paisley Hope, the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Training the Heart, a cowboy boss MMC workplace spicy romance novel revolving around the characters of Wade Ashby and the lovely Ivy. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. Ivy has come to work on the Ashby's family farm, bringing her talents as a horse trainer and chaos-maker. She's supposed to be helping her boss, Wade, select a new horse to run in the Kentucky Derby in order to bring honor back to the Ashby family name. She chooses an underdog filly and the rest is history!

I loved all the movie references and country music references! If you're a fan of pop culture references in books, this one is going to be right up your alley. She's a bit of a chaotic, clumsy mess, and he's there to help. There's some elements of forced proximity in order to bring them together, and in spending time bonding, they begin to fall. I would say that the book is heavier on spice than story, but I think the story is enough to hold it together. There's lots of spicy scenes and a will they/won't they flirting thing going on, which makes it more satisfying when they do come together. They have to become vulnerable to each other to let each other in, and their shared trauma allows them to feel safe opening up to the other. This part was really sweet and realistic.

Training the Heart also has a lot of text message exchanges which are fun to read in a more modern story like this one. I liked the addition of the groupchats that gave you more insight into their personalities that we may not have had otherwise. Wade and Ivy have to go through several events that force them together, and I liked the idea of falling for each other as they learned more about each other's deepest secrets. The surprise pregnancy at the end felt a bit forced and rushed, but I understand why her character needed to face something to change her perspective. This series would appeal to fans of Elsie Silver. I enjoyed this one overall and would read more by Paisley Hope!