this is a lovely, spicy. tender story! Wade and Ivy are ultimate workplace grumpy/sunshine tropes. I loved seeing them find such deep connection and grow to from just coworkers to deeply connected souls, even navigating some very set in stone walls they each sheltered themselves in. they find not just love between each other but with the lovely family. another sowing spicy cowboy romance in the Silver Pines series! thank you for the arc!!!!

3.5 ⭐️ Ok, who doesn’t love a grumpy cowboy? I really enjoyed the differences in the personalities of Ivy and Wade and how well they worked together. Also, the scrunchies everywhere! I liked Training the Heart better than the first book. I would have liked a little bit more of a slow burn because I preferred the time waiting for them to get together.

Overall a fun quick read that fits with your typical cowboy romance.

Thanks for the eARC NetGalley.

4.5!

Training the Heart is the follow-up novel to Paisley Hope’s “Holding the Reins’ and I couldn’t wait to dive into it. I was super excited when I got the notification I had been approved for the ARC!
We caught a glimpse of Wade and Ivy in the first book, so I looked forward to seeing their relationship develop. Let me tell yall… Wade has a nasty mouth and I loved it 😈. I loved how much love and care Wade gave to Ivy, especially after all she’d been through. I think the small-town setting and the characters really make these books so loveable.
I docked half a star for the sheer reason that Ivy and Wade’s relationship felt like it was based on their sexual drive for each other. I wish there would have been even more heartfelt moments between Wade and Ivy because I felt like their entire relationship was based on sex. I honestly felt like there were too many sex scenes, so much so that I began skimming through them because they weren’t leaving an impact on me.
Anyways, I loved it otherwise! I can’t wait for the last book with Cole! 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✨ARC Review✨

Has Paisley become my favorite author this year? Abso-freaking-lutely!

I feel like every cowboy romance I've read in the past are just okay - they're good but nothing memorable. And then I pick up a Paisley Hope book and WOW, I LOVE COWBOY ROMANCES!

There's something about the way she writes- it's captivating and enchanting and you are pulled into the story. She makes grumpy cowboys so enticing and I want one.

This story was so much fun. I was entertained from start to finish. Boss and employee but that boss is Mr. Wade Ashby? Yeah, I wouldn't last either. Going to work would be the highlight of my damn day.

Ivy Spener is adorably fiesty and I loved her so much. She's such a beautiful character. I loved her growth. She was always a strong person but the more she does for herself and surrounds herself with the Silver Pines family, the stronger she gets. These people and this town have become her safe haven and I absolutely loved seeing her strive. Her personality, her humor, and her inner thoughts were written beautifully.

MR. WADE ASHBY. THE GRUMPY COWBOY WHO STOLE MY HEART. I love him so much. Nash Carter will always have a piece of my heart but Wade may have started to take over. He's just a big ole softy for his girl and fuck if anyone says shit about it. He's so caring and protective and it's so attractive. He's tough because his walls are so damn high; he's protecting himself. But he has a lot of love to give and ugh, he melts my heart.

The romance is SUPERIOR. THE SPICE IS SPICY. I was getting whisplash from all the intense moments. There's a lot of spice but damn, Paisley writes it SO DAMN WELL it leaves you wanting even MORE.

I loved seeing these two together. I looked forward to them always being in the same room. Their chemistry was out of this world. Their sarcastic banter was nailed every time. Their growth together was solid and beautiful to see. They've created such a beautiful family and it makes my heart so happy. There is so much I don't want to spoil so I won't!!

We get so many characters from this world in here and I LOVED IT. I loved seeing CeCe and Nash. I loved seeing Mama Jo and the Not So Angels. OMG GINGER AND COLE. I already know this will be my favorite of the whole damn series. I just want to be a part of this world so damn badly.

Everything about this book hits- EVERYTHING.

Paisley, you absolutely KILLED IT! (No surprise there!) I'm so excited for the rest of this series!!

Thank you so much to Paisley Hope, NetGalley, Random House and Dell for the arc copy!

I adored this book. A great blend of plot, spice, and characters you can connect with. We’ve got a grumpy rancher and a strong-willed trainer who can break down his walls without even trying.

First of all - Wade fucking Ashby, the man that you are! 🥵 A grumpy rancher who is absolutely and irrevocably in love with his girl. This man falls HARD for Ivy and personifies Acts of Service and is so incredibly selfless, pure, and wonderful to Ivy. Absolutely gives her everything she needs before she even realizes it.

Ivy as a character is incredibly strong and decided. She’s so resilient and doesn’t allow her past trauma to define her. She finds her perfect, found family in the Ashbys and the Not Angels and it’s so lovely to see Ivy flourish and be pure sunshine.

Don’t even get me started on the smut because wow, it was so spectacular! Wade Ashby is truly a filthy god among men and I’m so grateful for every damn second I was able to spend with Wade and Ashby!

My first book by Paisley Hope! If you're looking for a small town romance and a grumpy boss with a soft spot just for her, this is the book for you!!! I will say the dialogue felt a bit cringey at times, but overall this was a great read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!
This one worked for me much better than the first book did. I really liked Ivy. She was a very memorable main character and I loved seeing her grow and overcome things from her past.
I appreciated that the romance took a little longer to develop than book one did. It wasn’t a slow burn by any means but we had longer to get to know the characters and let the tension build which I really loved. I loved Wade and Ivy’s banter in the first half of the book. I loved seeing Wade get a little soft and open up in the second half even more.
This book set up the next ones so well and I’m excited to see where all these characters end up. I know I’m going to LOVE Ginger.

This was a step out of my comfort zone spice wise. There were several elements that definitely weren’t for me but I just skipped/skimmed and that did not affect my review. I’d also recommend checking more in depth trigger warnings than what the author’s note provides if you are sensitive to sexual content, certain relationship dynamics, and (past, off-page) emotional abuse.

Mercy.

I really liked Holding the reins, but omg. Wade fucking Ashby. Good grief! He is truly a grumpy rancher in the streets and a freak in the sheets. Whoo! And Ivy is such a badass. I loved her so much. They were truly perfect for each other.

Thank you to Paisley and NetGalley for the ARC. It was so damn worth the wait for these two. Just wow.

Wade Ashby the man the you are and Ivy Spencer the woman you are 😮‍💨😮‍💨 I didn’t think anyone could top Nash Carter and now here we are. We love a strong independent woman, we love a man who falls hard and we love when he doesn’t try to put that fire in her out. The way this story had me experiencing all kinds of emotions too??? Paisley Hope has done it again folks

I feel like everything i said about holding the reins is true for Ivy and Wade's story. I loved every minute of it, and may have accidentally read it all in one sitting. This workplace, close proximity they both fall first and fall fast spicy romance was the perfect addition to still being in my cowboy era. I loved how Wade and Ivy's story progressed, it felt realistic and had plenty of meltworthy moments that I couldn't get enough of. I loved how they supported each other in working through past hurt and I loved the found family that was with them along the way. And I'm now anxiously awaiting Cole and Ginger's story!


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review!

4.25⭐️ 3🌶️
Wade may be a grumpy cowboy, but he sure loves fiercely 😏I absolutely loved the story of Wade and Ivy. Janelle and Brad are honestly awful people and deserve all the bad things. Ivy is sassy, and so strong! Her background story would be difficult for anyone to navigate, but she came out so strong. She deserved more than Brad, and she gets it! I look forward to book 3!

This series just has me in a chokehold! I absolutely loved this book as much as the first!

-grumpy/sunshine
-age gap
-cowboy/trainer
-she blasts her spicy audiobooks
-forced proximity

Ivy comes to Silver Pines to be a temporary trainer. Wade is skeptical of her, and a total grump. These two had me so invested. The vibes between them, him stealing and keeping her scrunchies, taking care of her so well… washing/drying her hair!! Ugh. I’m in love. She was a force of nature and I adored her! Blasting her filthy why choose audiobooks and making him I comfortable was too good. I love all the characters in this series and cannot wait for Cole and Ginger!!!

Story-4.5⭐️
Spice-3 🌶️

So grateful for the arc!

Holy spice! Wade and Ivy’s chemistry was so good! I loved the tension in the first part of the book. The whole Silver Pines family is fun to read. Wade was a great alpha protector dealing with Ivy’s dumb ex. I really enjoy this series and I can’t wait now for Cole and Ginger’s story!

I devoured Training the Heart in less than 24 hours (and I’m not sorry). Wade Ashby is the personification of my favorite love language - Acts of Service. Every single thing he did for Ivy was so selfless, so pure, and so utterly beautiful. He’s the kind of book boyfriend you wish were real, and the kind of character that sets the bar impossibly high even while he's being grumpy.

Ivy was everything. Strong, independent, and so relatable that her journey felt like it was my own. Her story, her resilience, and the way she found her place with the Not Angels and the Ashby family filled me with so much joy. She’s the kind of heroine that makes you feel seen.

And of course, Paisley Hope has done it again—are we even surprised at this point? Every word, every page, every one of Wade’s swoony lines left me shook. Oh, and that hand tattoo! BRB, still drooling.

If you haven’t picked this one up yet, what are you even doing with your life?

4.5 star - rounding up!! miss paisley hope…I am WRECKED!! I just finished this less than 30 minutes ago and want to re-read. I am obsessed with Wade and Ivy’s story. Hope did a stellar job at balancing real life issues (fertility problems, emotional abuse, grief) and sexual tension that could melt you. I felt so connected to both of these characters and seeing Wade come out of his shell for Ivy was such an experience. This book ranks in my top five cowboy romances. I cannot wait for Hope to continue this series (Ginger and Cole I am looking at you) Thank you for the e-arc!

I’m a sucker for a grumpy cowboy with a dirty mouth and Wade is all that and more. Even with the grumpy exterior he is down bad for Ivy. He is an acts of service man and it was so sweet to see him take care of Ivy. Ivy is a spitfire and is pure sunshine. She puts Wade in his place and doesn’t back down, which I loved. The banter was top tier and I loved when they both put their guard down and learned to trust each other. The spice in this book was perfect. It’s always the quiet, grumpy ones🥵😮‍💨 I absolutely ate this book up in one day and I didn’t want it to end.
Tropes
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Forced proximity
✨Road trip/one bed
✨Found family

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was a fun and easy-to-read sequel to Holding the Reins. Another great series of cowboy romance for lovers of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage!

Ivy and Wade had a fun dynamic and I enjoyed that they continued to challenge/egg each other on throughout the book. The games they played were a nice parallel to the tender moments they also shared together. I also appreciated the lack of miscommunication trope or a third act break up.

I also love the side characters and getting to spend more time with them. Can’t wait for more Ashby drama.

Tropes: cowboy, small town, forced proximity, dual POV

5 fabulous stars for Mr. Wade Ashby, Sir.

This book was everything I could have asked for. A grumpy, tough as nails cowboy that will melt into a puddle for the woman he loves. I read this book in a matter of two days (I have three kids, that is seriously impressive!) I couldn't put it down as each chapter left me wanting more and more of Wade and Ivy.

The trope list is phenomenal. Grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, found family, all of it. Something I have come to find is that I don't love the surprise pregnancy trope, but I must say Paisley wrote this one so, so well. I was giddy from start to finish. Also on another note, the spice was SPICING. I love a good open door scene and man, Paisley did not disappoint, over and over. Wade Ashby and his filthy mouth will live rent free in my head for a long while.

So basically what I'm saying is read the damn book. If Paisley writes it, I'm devouring it.

Thanks so much to Random House Publishing, Net Galley and the one and only Paisley Hope for entrusting me this ARC.

Thank you Paisley Hope, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and Dell Romance for my copy of Training The Heart. 🤍 I received this book for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.

I’ve been obsessed w all things Paisley Hope ever since her debut novel, Holding The Reins. When I was presented the opportunity to read the second book in her Silver Pines series I was so incredibly honored and excited. I absolutely love all of the characters in these books. I love the small town charm, the family banter and the dirty mouths on these Ashby men. IYKYK.

Training The Heart is Wade and Ivy’s story. Wade is the grumpiest of the Ashby men as it seems but the way he’s only soft for Ivy is soo swoony. Ivy’s quite the spitfire and I think she’s just what Wade needed. She won’t back down to him, in fact she challenges him like no one else ever has. The chemistry between these two almost burnt up my kindle. I truly loved the aspect of this book where Ivy didn’t need a hero to save her because she damn well could save herself and Wade was behind her, supporting her, all on her own.

Riding The High is book 3 in Paisley’s Silver Pine series which is Cole and Gingers story and the way I’ve been anticipating their story is like no other. Their constant banter since book 1 is delicious torture and edging. Paisley knows what she’s doing to us!

Training The Heart releases December 31! 🎉