MY GOD! I am still fanning myself off after that ending. THIS WAS HOOOOOOT AND STEAMY. I was like "Hey I was promised there would be 🍑!" and Paisely was like "Oh I've got you, I didn't forget."

I've had my eye on Paisley Hope's book for a while as something similar to Elsie Silver. If you like Elsie Silver, you will like these. However, Paisley makes her own damn name. She has made her own genre, and she can't be compared to anyone else.

I'm going to say it Silver Pines is better than Chestnut Springs. Wade Ashby can have me any time anywhere. There was plot, there was spiooooce, there was humor, and there was so much love and compassion. Every character was necessary, and I loved Ivy finding a family that loved and accepted and cheered her on. Ivy was smart and funny, and I loved that she was whiny and didn't constantly doubt herself. She knew what it took to get things done. Wade tattooing MINE on his hand *swoon*. He was the perfect grumpy to Ivy's sunshine. He was so supportive of her and her dreams and making things just happen for her, and in return, he found himself again. There were a few parts that got a bit repetitive, like certain vocabulary, but I let it slide because this was just sooo good. I am already downloading the 1st book in the series and can not wait!


I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Mercy is right!

I absolutely adored this book.

Grumpy/sunshine? Check
Workplace romance? Check
I was NOT expecting the great emotional storylines that were written into with the emotional abuse at the hands of Ivy's ex and what she was dealing with her alcoholic mother.
And Wade had his issues he was dealing with his recent divorce and controlling ex-wife.

Can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Ivy and Wade's story! Ivy gets hired on as a horse trainer at Wade's ranch. Ivy is all sunshine, and Wade can't take it. But when she gets hurt and he cares for her...well, iykyk. In this book you'll find small town, grumpy sunshine, terrible exes, ice cream sundaes, and a HEA!
Everything in this books just works. You root for the characters the entire time, and know it will be epic when it ends. The characters, relationship, family and friends-they're all so important to the book. It's so well written, and the development of the relationship is beautiful! And the spiceeeee, this has more delicious spice than the first book in the series (Holding the Reins).

This book is so beautiful, I can’t say enough good things about it!

✨️Arc Read✨️
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️


📌 Triggers: Emotional Abuse (off-page but heavily mentioned) Alcoholism (off-page but heavily mentioned) Struggles with Fertility (on-page) Grief (on-page)

📌 HEA: Epilouge 9 years later. Married with kids.

📌 No Cheating/Sharing

📌 Slight OWD: MMC is divorced. His ex-wife wants him back in order to use him, but he shuts her down. He has no feelings for his ex and never once wants her back.

📌 Slight OMD: FMCs ex-boyfriend tries contacting her. They run into each other a couple of times, but MMC always puts him in place. FMC never once wants the ex back.

📌 Small Separation of 4 hours. FMC wants time to think on her own.

📌 No Third-act Breakup

I don't know what Paisley puts in these books, but it's addictive and I can't get enough. The mouth on this man. Wade is so carefully constructed and in control, but when he lets go, oh my! If there is a book to give to your man to say yes to this, I want this... here it is! The "mine" tattoo on his hand as a collar for her 🤯🫨. I actually passed away.

I'm saying it here first, Paisley Hope is the new queen of smut! She's doing better than everyone else right now. If you are looking for a recommendation for a book that has the smuttiest smut, but you also don't want to sacrifice on a strong plot with well-developed characters, well, here's your answer folks... anything written by Paisley Hope! Pick up any of her books and you'll agree.

This is the third book I've read by her this month and they have all been pure perfection. This is now a Paisley Hope fan account. Join me, won't you?

I appreciate Netgally & Random House Publishing-Ballantine, for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. With that being said, I feel like it’s important to leave an honest review.

I got to chapter six before I couldn’t bring myself to continue. This book lacked any sort of substance or foundation for me. Every single man in this book did nothing but sexualize the FMC. The amount of times the MMC references either his dick or her boobs is ridiculous and I got only that far into it. Also the FMC referring to herself as: lady bits was odd.

That’s all the author seemed to want to write about, and it confuses me that this book is 448 pages. Because where’s the tension or build up or foundation even going to come from? It seems like it will all be based on lust.

Not only that, but the dialogue is cringy and the author does a lot of telling instead of showing.

In all, I need a book to have that solid relationship building substance and this book had none of it.

Also, this is just my opinion, and I wanted to be honest in my review.

Paisley writes the best characters, Wade and Ivy were both incredible and so much fun to get to know. They are opposites in the best ways. Wade is gruff and broody, while Ivy is strong and fiesty, but also sweet and adorable. When Wade opens up to her and shows another side of himself, it is fantastic, and the hottest thing ever. When this man falls, he falls hard!

I honestly didn’t think anything could ever live up to the first book in this series, 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘴, but that turned out to be untrue. They are very different stories set in the same amazing world, and 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 definitely exceeded my expectations. Also getting more of CeCe and Nash is all I could ever want out of life so I was here for the moments involving them, as well as the rest of the Silver Pines crew. Having my favorite girl gang together again was the best!

This book has the perfect amount of humor, emotion, tension, chemistry, complexity, BANTER (omg the banter was the best, I can’t even explain it), and Paisley’s magic spice. The third in this series can’t come soon enough! I am obsessed with her writing and this world she has created.

Paisley has done it once again, and made me fall in love with a grumpy MMC 💜

“To those searching for their grumpy, loyal, protective cowboy who will tattoo mine on his hand just so it looks pretty wrapped around your throat, don’t give up, babe. Your Wade Ashby is out there.”

Wade is just the perfect amount of grumpy and smoking hot and Ivy is healing herself from trauma and giving Wade as much sass as she possibly can.

Thank you Penguin publishing and Paisley for allowing me to be an arc reader again, I’m so honored!

5/⭐️
4.5/🌶️(mainly for that last epilogue because 😮‍💨😮‍💨)

Initial Thoughts

Ummmmmm…so four very light spoilers here:
1. Wade Ashby reads the morning paper wearing only light grey sweatpants and his thin black-rimmed glasses.
2. Wade Ashby likes pain with his pleasure.
3. Ivy listens to and reads spicy romance.
4. That bonus scene 😮‍💨

STORY LOVES
♥️♥️♥️♥️.5 (rounded)
∙
SPICE
🌶️ Medium hot(ish)
∙
RECOMMEND
💳 100% yes

📖“Training the Heart,” Paisley Hope’s second installment in her Silver Pines Ranch series, brings readers back to the small town of Laurel Creek. This time, we meet the spirited horse trainer Ivy, who happens to be the perfect fit for the grumpy and rugged cowboy Wade Ashby, whom we briefly met in “Holding the Reins.”🐎

✨Ivy is hiding from her past, while Wade is still grieving his father and dealing with his troublesome ex-wife. This adds layers of drama to “Training the Heart.”✨

✨I love the undeniable chemistry between Wade and Ivy. The initial sēxüãl tension and Ivy’s accident, which forces her to stay with Wade as her temporary caregiver, lead to a shower scene that acts as the catalyst to break that tension. They give in to the temptation! Paisley Hope has written some steamy and memorable scenes that provide just the right amount of spice without overshadowing the emotional depth of the story. 😮‍💨

✨I don’t want to give away the details of the bonus scene, but just know that it perfectly captures Wade and Ivy’s love story while adding more heat.💗

✨“Training the Heart” is a must-read. Paisley Hope delivers a story that’s both emotionally rewarding and exciting. I’m looking forward to Cade and Ginger’s story.💯

‼️I hope you enjoy “Training the Heart” as much as I did. If you’re sensitive to certain content, please make sure you read the warning before you dive in.✨

Happy reading! 💋

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read “Training the Heart” in advance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I knew after I'd read two other books by Paisley that she would be an auto-buy author for me. I took a shot in the dark and applied for this ARC on Netgalley and I am so honored to be able to read this one early!

Ivy and Wade had the most delicious banter even before they got together. The angst. The tension, it was just SO GOOD. I devoured this book and found myself smiling so big and laughing throughout and their funny banter and loving moments.

It was such a joy to witness Wade's walls come down. To see him turn from such a grump with no hope for a happy future, to someone who couldn't imagine his future without Ivy. I wish I could go back and read it again right now.

It was so fun to see the Ashby family and the whole clan again. Paisley has created such a wonderful family and it feels like you're part of it too, even as the reader. I would be remiss to not mention the spice, and as usual, Paisley de-liv-ered. It's SO good you guys.

Trust me when I say, this is one you'll want to pick up immediately when it releases at the end of December. And if you can't wait that long, check out Holding the Reins or Wolf.e by Paisley to tide you over 😍

Read if you love:
👢Boss x employee
👢Forced proximity
👢Grumpy x sunshine
👢no third act breakup
👢Great communication
👢he'd do anything for her

"My heartbeat accelerates and squeezes in my chest as I realize there are two things I've never been more certain of that I am in this very moment. 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."

MERCY! This book made my heart happy. I knew I was going to love it but I didn’t realize just how much I was going to love it! 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 was perfection. Finishing this book, I feel so attached to these characters. I love the Ashby family, I love the Not Angels, and I genuinely love this series. This book had me laughing, crying, and full on swooning.

I was completely charmed by Wade + Ivy. These characters shared such a natural chemistry with Ivy’s sass and Wade’s grumpiness. The banter was endless, and they really felt like a perfect match. Be still, my heart. Wade. Freaking. Ashby. That MMC was out here setting standards. I loved him so much. Every little thing he did for Ivy had me positively melting, and don’t even get me started on that man’s mouth. Total book boyfriend material.

Overall, this book brought me so much joy and laughter from start to finish. It has such a beautiful and satisfying ending. Highly recommend to all my fellow cowboy romance lovers.

"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
🤠 Cowboy Romance
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy Lessons
🛏️ One Bed
🚫 No Third Act Break Up
🫶🏼 Strong FMC

Thank you so much Paisley Hope, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩.

(4.75 stars) Thank you NetGalley and Paisley Hope for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book!

I have been so excited for this book, and it did not disappoint whatsoever. Ivy and Wade are perfect for each other, and their love story is absolutely beautiful. The Silver Pines books have definitely made their way onto my list of fav romances. And y’all…the spice is SPICING in this one!!!

Training The Heart is book two in the series and was a good read! After the unexpected death of his father, Wade Ashby is running his family's ranch and doesn't have much time for anything else. Ivy Spencer has come to work for the Silver Pines Ranch as a trainer. Wade was broody, grumpy, Ivy was strong, sassy and fun. I loved the slow burn and the sizzling chemistry these two had. And the steamy scenes were off the charts explosive!! Loved loved them for each other!! Can't wait for the next one!!

I didn’t just read this book, I inhaled it! At this point, anything Paisley Hope writes is an instant “yes” from me. She’s officially on my auto-buy list, and this book was everything I hoped for and more!

Ivy is the kind of character who feels like a best friend. She has the sweetest heart but keeps her guard up, which I get so much. Her sass and resilience? Absolutely unmatched! And let’s just say that scrunchies have never been more important (you’ll get it when you read it)!

Now, I thought Nash was the ultimate heartthrob… until Wade came along and completely stole the show. This man! He’s grumpy, bossy, and oh-so-charming when it counts. A broody rancher who only smiles for her? Yes, please! Oh, and let’s not forget the tattoo he gets for her..

Watching Ivy and Wade’s love story was like a perfect romance movie in my head. They’re two sides of the same coin, and have the best nicknames for each other. She’s his “Trouble,” he’s her “Chief”

One word for this book? “MERCY.”

Big thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for providing me an arc!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to arc read Training the Heart!

I adore Paisley and the characters she creates. The chemistry between our two leads was SIZZLING and I was waiting with bated breath for the tension cord to snap. And once it did, my gosh, the spice was spicin. I will say this book felt heavier on the spice side rather than the emotional side, but overall it didn't deter my enthusiasm/rating for the story.

I can't wait for the next book in the Silver Pines series!

I literally ate this book right up! I knew I would be Paisley Hope knows how to write a damn good man and a badass woman. I swear she puts crack in her books. Wade Ashby is top tier… holy shit! I thought no man could top Noah Riley but Wade sure as fuck did! The spice was wow I can’t even it was just fantastic! Plot and spice and balancing it is tough to do in books but Paisley knows how to. Sir Wade, I salute you!

Grumpy x Sunshine✔️
Forced Proximity✔️
One Bed✔️
Boss x Employee ✔️
Small Town✔️✔️

Wade. Good lord that man is EVERYTHING
He’s a grump, and I mean a GRUMP that isn’t afraid to let people know it, but deep down he’s a softie and a dang sexy one 😮‍💨

“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.”

Ivy isn’t afraid to speak her mind, especially to Wade, even though he’s her boss. She can dish is back just as well and I lived for their banter.

Watching Ivy and Wade come together in their own way was so beautiful. She’s been through so much and to see Wade, a strong man who is always in charge, let her find her and make sure knows he’s there if she needs him was everything.

If yall are looking for a spicy small town romance, with a strong woman and a man who knows how to make her feel even stronger and love her in all the right ways this read is for you!

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Yep, I've fallen in love with the Ashby family at Silver Pines Ranch. Paisley Hope is a talented writer who definitely likes to turn up the heat in her romance novels.
Ivy & Wade are both headstrong characters who have been treated poorly by their ex's & came out the other side stronger from it.
I'm already beyond excited for Cole & Ginger's story in the next Silver Pines book in the series. My hope is Olivia's story is to follow that cause a few easter eggs hints have been dropped in Paisley's stories & I for one, am looking forward to more stories involving the Ashby family.
Thank you, #NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, with all thoughts and opinions are my own. If you're looking for spunky characters, a little drama, plenty of passion, & lots of swoon, then I recommend reading this wonderful Training the Heart romance story.

Training the Heart is the second book in Paisley Hope’s Silver Pines Ranch series. It is a spicy and swoony contemporary romance. I adore the sassiness of Ivy and what a spitfire she is, despite her past heartaches. Wade had me swooning early on and I love the chemistry between them. The banter is great. I can totally picture the vivacious Ivy and the grumpy-yet-silently-pining Wade. I love the big Ashby clan and the girl gang vibes throughout it.

Ivy is my hero. Right off the bat when she shows up late to her job interview and explains it’s because the spice finally hit in her slow burn romance book. All while cussing like a sailor. And then the later mentions of her spicy audiobooks had me cracking up. Speaking of cussing like a sailor, anyone that knows me knows that f-ck is regularly used in my vocabulary. But, wow, does this book love the word f-ck. Like, A LOT a lot. So if that’s not your thing, consider yourself warned.

I read Paisley Hope’s debut novel and the first book of this series, Holding the Reins, as her indie published debut novel. She has since been picked up by a big publisher. I really enjoyed the first book but it had a lot of typos and grammar errors in it, which I assume traditional editing and publishing will fix. That being said, I read Training the Heart as an uncorrected ARC proof so I have yet to find out if that aspect has improved. Either way, the bones of her stories are great and I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future.

If you are looking for a book similar to Elsie silver’s books then you will love this book. The romance was perfect and so cute