I enjoy a cowboy, “forbidden” love story as much as the next person and this book delivered with its strong, well-developed characters. It had just the right amount of spice and resilience to keep things engaging. However, I felt the story dragged at times. I wished for more focus on the small-town charm, found-family dynamics, and ranch lifestyle, as these elements help me feel more immersed in the world. That said, the author did an excellent job weaving in the characters' past traumas, their present lives, and their personal growth, which added depth to the story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book! This story follows Ivy, a horse trainer who’s fled an abusive relationship and is looking to lay low and find herself again and Wade, the oldest Ashby brother who is in charge of running the ranch after his dad passed away and is hoping to make a derby run like his dad did. What started out as playful and often times snarky workplace banter, turned into Ivy totally charming Wade into falling in love with her.

This book was so stinking good. There’s nothing better than a hot grumpy cowboy with a dirty mouth who loves with his entire soul. Wade is such a complex character who is truly dealing with oldest child syndrome of always taking on the burden of everyone around him, but with Ivy he does it without a second thought. Ivy is a badass horse trainer who desperately wants find herself, and gain back the confidence she lost due to her abusive ex, but struggles letting anyone close. Not only is she hesitant to let Wade in, but she is struggling with the fact that her mom is an alcoholic and she feels responsible to take care of her. Wade and Ivy’s chemistry is so believable, and his devotion to her was flat out swoon worthy. I wish we could have seen more interactions with the “not angels” because they are hilarious, but overall such an amazing book. I loved every second of reading by it.

I will be posting my review on Goodreads as soon as possible, and my bookstagram account CandeceBookedSolid by 11/17/24

4.5 ⭐️ Paisley has done it again! I really enjoyed her debut novel and the first book in this series, Holding The Reins, and was so glad to find I enjoyed this one just as much.

Wade is the oldest Ashby sibling, he’s gruff, grumpy and holds the weight of the family ranch on his shoulders. Ivy is their newest employee and the only woman to get under his skin. I really enjoyed their dynamic. This was a bit of a slow burn and the sexual tension between them built so beautifully. The payoff when they reached their breaking point was well and truly worth the wait. Although he seemed grouchy on the outside, Wade had the sweetest side to him and he showered Ivy with all the love and support she deserved. These two fit together so perfectly and seeing them get their happily ever after was everything.

Although I don’t know much about ranching or horses, I enjoyed that aspect of the story and seeing the lead up to the derby race. I also once again adored the friendships between the brothers and the Not Angels. They were hilarious and I cannot wait to get back to Silver Pines for Cole’s story with a certain fiesty best friend of his sister’s 🤭

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dell & Random House Publishing for the ARC 🤍

I loved the first book in this series but could not handle the pacing of this one?! It felt very odd how we started out meeting the fmc and then like the time jumped forward? I didn’t like how it was all set up and then couldn’t get invested in this couple. I will still read more of this author though!

I am really liking this series! This book I would consider grumpy/sunshine. Wade can be seen as the grumpy rancher boss and Ivy the cheerful/fiery employee. Both gravitate towards each other and there comes a point where they just can't deny it anymore. Challenges come, but instead of pushing them apart. It pushes them closer. Definitely a fun read, with small town vibes, and smut.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the ARC.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Why is a grumpy rancher obsessed with his employee exactly what I needed?

This was even better than the first book. I absolutely loved how tenderly Wade takes care of Ivy—he’s constantly protecting and supporting her in every way. The family dynamics in this series are also such a highlight for me. The Ashbys have my heart. 💜

“Mercy.”

This one was HOT 🥵 If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage and you’re looking for a cowboy romance with more spice, you need to pick up this series.

This book also has a surprise twist 👶🏼🤰🏻 at the very end, which I think was so well done in this book. Given Ivy’s story, I didn’t mind it at all—it actually felt like the perfect way to tie everything together.

Tropes I loved:
🐴 grumpy x sunshine
🐴 one bed
🐴 man obsessed
🐴 hand necklace 😉

Rating:
⭐️ 4.5 rounded up
🌶️ 4 on the spice scale

I am obsessed with Ginger and can’t wait for her story next. Huge congrats to Paisley—ever since I discovered her books, I’ve been hooked!

Thank you to Random House for the eARC and this amazing opportunity. Training the Heart comes out on December 31, the perfect book to start the new year. Preorder it now and don’t miss out on Ivy and Wade’s story! 🪻 🐎 💜

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

Stop what you’re doing and add this to your TBR!!!
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.

Thank you so much for these arc copies - love love love!!

💜ARC REVIEW💜
Tropes:
Cowboy Romance
Ex-Hockey player MMC
Found Family
Grief(Loss of parents)
Age Gap
Brothers Best Friend

Favorite Character:
Cecelia Ashby

Overall Review:
CeCe deserved so much more than that pathetic excuse of a man Andrew and thank GOODNESS it’s Nash Carter. I loved that when CeCe set her boundaries with her Ex, she didn’t let him walk all over her and make her cave. Seeing how she started to get so much happier being around her friends and family shows just how negatively her former relationship was effecting her. Nash being able to lean on CeCe’s family for support after what happened with his own parents warms my heart. Cecelia truly has some amazing parents for taking Nash into their home. I loved that Nash always had CeCe’s back even when she was going through though the official separation with Andrew. Also the slight stalking part for her safety? ADORABLE. Also that whiskey scene……wow 🤭. I did not expect that at all and I loved it ✨

Thank you to Paisley Hope and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC 💜

Thank you so much for the arc!

I always think that the second book in a series is better than the first and I was right about this one! It so hot to be honest. 🔥 it gave me the front runner vibes a bit in the way the FMC is always defending or taken care of herself while she takes care of everyone else. I really enjoyed the book. It is on a series but it can be read on its own for sure. I already can’t wait for the next book!

Paisley Hope has a skill writing some dirty talking cowboy ranchers who deliver with more than just words. I enjoyed Holding the Reins early this year and was excited to get the chance to read Training the Heart in advance. It was a great addition to the Silver Pines series.

Wade is a grumpy man, but underneath the outward, surly, to-the-point attitude is a man with a filthy mouth on him who’s not shy about letting the words fly and putting it to work when the opportunity presents itself. And present itself it does through a lot of this book. You’ll be getting A LOT of spice in this one — I’ll be honest about that usually leaving me skimming sometimes but didn’t so much here. The connection between Wade and Ivy was fiery and passionate.

Ivy has had a challenging past few years leading up to her arrival at Silver Pines. Wade is the kind of man she needs. He’s gruff and growly, but he has an aura of safety and respect, and he becomes someone she can speak her mind to and build her own self-confidence with. He listens to her when it comes to training the horses, he takes her words seriously, and he has her back without shrinking her down.

I’m not good with providing spice ratings because it’s so subjective, but know that once the sexual tension dam breaks between these two, it’s a deluge that does not get reined back in. It’s hot and it’s frequent, but not at the sake of sacrificing plot. It builds the intimacy and trust between the two of them in a very steamy way.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series as it comes. Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the first Silver Pines book just fine. Spice heavy, but I don't remember it being really cringey or gross. This one was like the author is trying to get an award for most disgusting spice scene - and there was more than one contender in these pages. I really want to read Cole and Ginger's story but I'm not sure if I will considering how much ick this book gave me. It also has the #1 most hated romance trope that, in my mind, was executed poorly. I usually save one star for DNFs but two is just too generous here.

WOW! I was not expecting half of what I read in this one! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ivy & Wade, especially the way they supported each other. I did not expect to love this one as much as I did. I'm excited for the rest of the series.

If you want a man that is utterly obsessed and yet somehow oblivious to his feelings, this book is for you!
BIG Acts of Service man, Wade will do anything for Ivy without even thinking twice! I love them so much! And when the spice hits 😮‍💨 it HITS!!

Wade and Ivy are electric! They are a perfect example of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I love that they challenge each other to be better. They both have issues to work through and it shows as they spend time together. They are surrounded by an amazing support system in his family - I absolutely adore Papa Dean! The way that they interact with each other and everyone else just draws you in and won't let go. I am so excited for the next book!
Main points:
❤️grumpy x sunshine
❤️ slow burn
❤️horse rancher x horse trainer
❤️caretaker x independent woman
❤️opposites attract
❤️found family
❤️forced proximity
❤️witty banter
❤️she goes to him when she's hurt
❤️save a horse - IYKYK

Obsessed with this series and with Silver Pines! The Ashby family is everything and I just can’t get enough.

Ivy Spencer signs on to help Wade Ashby train horses and source their next derby winner. She comes with some baggage, but she sheds it while falling for her new boss. Wade is the grumpiest grump with a soft spot for Ivy, who unlocks his heart and teaches him how to open up.

Everything about their romance was swoon worthy. I loved their banter, their chemistry, and the way they supported each other. There were some surprisingly heavy topics in this book, but they were handled respectfully and honestly. I thankfully don’t have experience with any of those topics but I am hopeful that the way they were portrayed in the book was authentic. I got the sense that that was very important to the author, and got confirmation when I read the author’s note!

I even enjoyed what is typically my least favorite trope, which I won’t identify here for spoiler reasons. But it was wrapped up in another important part of the story that made it make sense.

There are also not enough chili peppers to describe the spice in this book. Off the charts. Unhinged. Insane. Also, as a side note, don’t read the bonus chapter unless you’re prepared for what it’s about. Really, really, really not something I have any interest in reading about but I have to give it to the author for making sure she was thorough with her story and didn’t deprive some of her readership of what they were clamoring for. Different strokes for different folks and all that. Just be prepared!

I also loved that the author included a horsey glossary at the end. But, as an equestrian, please consider this my official pitch to be Paisley Hope’s equine consultant for the rest of the series. Anyway, give me book 3 immediately. That is all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Grumpy/Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Boss/Employee
Cowboy Romance
Surprise Pregnancy

This was my first Paisley Hope book and I am now addicted! The writing, the spice and the absolute hilariousness of this book is perfection! I smiled, kicked my feet and laughed all through it! Wade is the grumpy to Ivy’s sunshine and their sweet and spicy love is chefs kiss!

As a note, please check content warnings: alcoholism, emotional abuse, fertility struggles

Wade Ashby is a closed off, newly divorced, control freak grump with the weight of his family’s business on him. Ivy is a sunshiny, sassy, horse trainer that has come to fill in on the Ashby ranch. Wade’s made it clear to everyone that Ivy’s off limits… but is she off limits to him?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Wade, oh Wade! Ivy is one lucky girl. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group of this book.

I loved the literal and metaphorical stripping of Wade’s layers in this second installment of Silver Pines Ranch. Wade and Ivy healed each other and I loved that every step of the way you know Wade will have Ivy’s back! I love a sassy heroine and filthy mouthed hero. Now looking forward to Ginger and Cole’s story.

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read, and Paisley encompasses small town in such a great way! The tropes were written nicely and the tension between these two is very palpable.

I always love a good cowboy romance, and this one was such a good one. I was laughing so much reading this one because their banter was truly comical. Wade and Ivy were just so witty with one another and always had it ready immediately. I love when the banter is super heated or tension filled, and boy was it here. While they made me laugh, Wade and Ivy also melted my heart. They were truly exactly what each other needed.

This was also a first from Paisley Hope that I have read, and I will be reading the next book in this series immediately.

Training the Heart (e-arc)
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 5/5

Special thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an authentic review!

“One: I’m wildly in love with Ivy. I not only love her, I need her, the way the moon needs the sun to set every night just so it can rise.
Two: There’s no me without her anymore, she just doesn’t know it yet.”

“It’s like he’s training me to crave him, to beg for him. If that is his plan, it’s working. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

“You said to me once, you don’t need me to come to your rescue, and you were right. You don’t, I don’t need to be your hero, you’re already your own fucking hero,”

——
WOW. I’m speechless. This is my second Paisley Hope book and let’s just say, I’M A FAN. NO—I’M A STAN. After reading “Holding the Reins” I was sooooo excited to get my hands on this e-arc! I was feral for Wade and Ivy! I love the way they navigated through the loss of their own dad and being in charge of their family. From Ivy giving up everything to take care of her mom and moving away from her disgusting ex-fiancé Brad (I will fight this man if I ever see him) to find out who she really is and learning to trust those around her to help. And then Wade, being the ultimate grumpy man in charge of their family Ashby family and learning how to trust others and fall in love again!! These two truly have my whole heart!! The way that Wade made it clear how much he wanted Ivy and the GODDAMN TENSION!! THE GODDAMN SPICE—give me a moment to calm down! I have truly fallen in love with Paisley Hope’s writing style and can’t wait to see what Cole and Ginger will be up to! I know it’s going to be my favorite!